OBJECTIVE: To determine if a simple morphological classification of embryos was predictive of subsequent pregnancy. DESIGN: Prospective case series. SETTING: University-based in vitro fertilization (IVF) program. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive embryo transfer (ET) cycles (n = 206). INTERVENTIONS: Embryos were classified into three grades: (1) equal-size blastomeres with no fragmentation; (2) unequal-size blastomeres; and (3) evidence of fragmentation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Embryo quality, age, indication for IVF, and stimulation protocol were evaluated for their effect on pregnancy rates (PR's). RESULTS: In cycles in which the best embryo transferred was grade 3, 2, or 1, the clinical PRs per ET were 0% (0/11 cycles), 12.8% (6/47 cycles, P less than 0.05), and 21.8% (32/148 cycles, P less than 0.05), respectively. When one, two, or three or more grade 1 embryos were replaced, the clinical PRs per ET were 15.6%, 16.3%, and 40% (P less than 0.05), respectively. Using logistic regression, embryo quality (P = 0.0011) and patient's age (P = 0.0044) were the only variables that affected PRs. CONCLUSION: The transfer of more than two good quality embryos had a positive effect, patient's age had a negative effect on PRs after IVF-ET.
OBJECTIVE: To determine if a simple morphological classification of embryos was predictive of subsequent pregnancy. DESIGN: Prospective case series. SETTING: University-based in vitro fertilization (IVF) program. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive embryo transfer (ET) cycles (n = 206). INTERVENTIONS: Embryos were classified into three grades: (1) equal-size blastomeres with no fragmentation; (2) unequal-size blastomeres; and (3) evidence of fragmentation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Embryo quality, age, indication for IVF, and stimulation protocol were evaluated for their effect on pregnancy rates (PR's). RESULTS: In cycles in which the best embryo transferred was grade 3, 2, or 1, the clinical PRs per ET were 0% (0/11 cycles), 12.8% (6/47 cycles, P less than 0.05), and 21.8% (32/148 cycles, P less than 0.05), respectively. When one, two, or three or more grade 1 embryos were replaced, the clinical PRs per ET were 15.6%, 16.3%, and 40% (P less than 0.05), respectively. Using logistic regression, embryo quality (P = 0.0011) and patient's age (P = 0.0044) were the only variables that affected PRs. CONCLUSION: The transfer of more than two good quality embryos had a positive effect, patient's age had a negative effect on PRs after IVF-ET.
Authors: C M Austin; S P Stewart; J M Goldfarb; L A Sheean; V R Gindlesperger; M A Duchon Journal: J Assist Reprod Genet Date: 1996-08 Impact factor: 3.412