Can healthy babies originate from oocytes with smooth endoplasmic reticulum aggregates? A systematic mini-review

Abstract

We have no conflicts of interest to declare and no funding was received.

Policy of IVF centres towards oocytes affected by Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum aggregates: a multicentre survey study

“…In 2013, the first births of healthy babies originating from SERa+ oocytes were published by Mateizel and colleagues [23]. A year later, a systematic mini-review of the literature, identified 171 apparently healthy babies from SERa+ cycles with 22 specifically from SERa+ oocytes [8]. Since then a recent publication [13] has added an extra ten healthy births from SERa+ oocytes and our centre 14 (submitted data).…”

“…Unfortunately, centres that do transfer affected embryos do not always follow up obstetrical and neonatal data. One of the aims of this survey as well as the recent publication of a mini-review [8] is to inform centres on the importance of recording data and publishing the outcomes when affected oocytes are not discarded. Although the birth of healthy babies is encouraging, data is currently lacking to allow an eventual revision of the Alpha-ESHRE Consensus [24].…”

“…On the one hand, as discussed above, since the publication of the Alpha-ESHRE Consensus, healthy babies have been born. On the other hand, decreased embryo quality, fertilization and pregnancy rates have been observed in certain studies, but not in others [8]. The initial purpose of an IC, is not to protect doctors from lawsuits but rather to correctly inform patients about the treatment proposed and its associated risks [26].…”

“…Moreover, most studies did not focus on the impact of an individual anomaly on IVF outcomes [1,[4][5][6]. SERa, on the other hand, have been studied independently by several groups and a negative effect of the SERa dysmorphism in terms of fertilization, embryo quality, implantation, pregnancy rates or perinatal complications has indeed been reported [8]. Moreover, neonatal deaths and major foetal malformations have been described, including one case of a Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome [9].…”

“…literature review has nevertheless recorded the birth of 22 apparently healthy babies originating specifically from affected oocytes [8]. The data in the literature is contradictory and there is little information on babies born.…”