Eran Zilberberg1,2, Robert Casper2,3,4, Jim Meriano2, Eran Barzilay1, Adva Aizer1, Michal Kirshenbaum1, Raoul Orvieto1, Jigal Haas5,6. 1. IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. 2. TRIO Fertility, Toronto, ON, Canada. 3. Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Canada. 4. Division of Reproductive Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. 5. IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. jigalh@hotmail.com. 6. TRIO Fertility, Toronto, ON, Canada. jigalh@hotmail.com.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To assess the variables that may predict which cleavage-stage embryo may develop into a blastocyst, and vice versa, to determine whether the cleavage-stage embryo morphology should be taken into consideration when transferring the embryo at the blastocyst stage. METHODS: A single center, retrospective cohort study. The study cohort included 3072 patients undergoing 3607 retrieval cycles and 23,124 embryos at the cleavage stage. We assessed the blastulation rate and evaluated which variables impact the ongoing pregnancy rate. RESULTS: High blastulation rate correlates with higher embryos' grading (I > II > III > IV > V) and higher number of blastomeres (8 > 7 > 6 > 5 > 4). 949 patients had fresh single blastocyst transfers. The ongoing pregnancy rate was 28.9% per transfer. Patients with ongoing pregnancies were significantly younger (34.3 vs. 36 years, p < 0.001), had higher number of oocyte yield (9.8 vs. 9, p = 0.02), and an increased rate of good-quality embryos transferred (70.7% vs. 47.7%, p = 0.001). When evaluating embryos progression, we found that whenever embryo developed to a good-quality blastocyst, its appearance at the cleavage stage did not affect ongoing pregnancy rate. CONCLUSION: Higher the number of blastomeres and better embryo grading were found to correlate with a higher blastulation rate. Nevertheless, if the embryo has already developed to a top-quality blastocyst, its morphology at the cleavage stage did not impact ongoing pregnancy rate.
PURPOSE: To assess the variables that may predict which cleavage-stage embryo may develop into a blastocyst, and vice versa, to determine whether the cleavage-stage embryo morphology should be taken into consideration when transferring the embryo at the blastocyst stage. METHODS: A single center, retrospective cohort study. The study cohort included 3072 patients undergoing 3607 retrieval cycles and 23,124 embryos at the cleavage stage. We assessed the blastulation rate and evaluated which variables impact the ongoing pregnancy rate. RESULTS:High blastulation rate correlates with higher embryos' grading (I > II > III > IV > V) and higher number of blastomeres (8 > 7 > 6 > 5 > 4). 949 patients had fresh single blastocyst transfers. The ongoing pregnancy rate was 28.9% per transfer. Patients with ongoing pregnancies were significantly younger (34.3 vs. 36 years, p < 0.001), had higher number of oocyte yield (9.8 vs. 9, p = 0.02), and an increased rate of good-quality embryos transferred (70.7% vs. 47.7%, p = 0.001). When evaluating embryos progression, we found that whenever embryo developed to a good-quality blastocyst, its appearance at the cleavage stage did not affect ongoing pregnancy rate. CONCLUSION: Higher the number of blastomeres and better embryo grading were found to correlate with a higher blastulation rate. Nevertheless, if the embryo has already developed to a top-quality blastocyst, its morphology at the cleavage stage did not impact ongoing pregnancy rate.
Entities:
Keywords:
Blastocysts; Cleavage-stage embryos; Good quality embryo (GQE)