Evaluation of a transfer medium containing high concentration of hyaluronan in human in vitro fertilization.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether a high concentration of recombinant hyaluronan in the embryo transfer (ET) medium can influence pregnancy rates in humans.
DESIGN: Retrospective, matched group study.
SETTING: Private and university hospital in vitro fertilization (IVF) units. PATIENT(S): Couples undergoing IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were divided in two groups. In group 1 (402 patients), ET was performed with an ET medium containing a high concentration of recombinant hyaluronan in the presence of recombinant human serum albumin (HSA). In group 2 (425 couples), ET was performed with a medium containing a lower concentration of hyaluronan and HSA. INTERVENTION(S): IVF and ICSI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The two groups were compared for pregnancy rates according to the woman's age, the technique used (IVF or ICSI), the number of embryos transferred, and the day of ET. RESULT(S): Between the two groups, no statistically significant differences were observed in the total pregnancy rates after IVF or ICSI. Similarly, the pregnancy rates did not differ between the two groups when subdivided according to the woman's age, the number of embryos transferred (one to four), or the day of ET (2, 3, or 5 after oocyte pick up). CONCLUSION(S): The use of an ET medium with a high concentration of hyaluronan does not appear to have any statistically significant effect on pregnancy rates.