Comparison of clinical outcomes following vitrified warmed day 5/6 blastocyst transfers using solid surface methodology with fresh blastocyst transfers

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:The literature regarding clinical outcomes following day 5/6 vitrified warmed blastocysts transfer has been conflicting. We decided to evaluate and compare the clinical outcomes following vitrified warmed day 5/6 blastocyst transfer using a solid surface vitrification protocol with fresh blastocyst transfers.SETTINGS:University teaching hospital.STUDY DESIGN:A total of 249 women were retrospectively analyzed: 146 fresh day 5 blastocyst (group 1), 57 day 5 vitrified warmed blastocyst (group 2), and 46 vitrified warmed day 6 blastocyst (group 3) transfer cycles. Vitrification was done using solid surface methodology (non immersion protocol). The main outcomes were implantation rates, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rate per embryo transfer.RESULTS:The baseline clinical characteristics were similar among all three groups. The implantation and clinical pregnancy rates following vitrified warmed day 6 blastocyst transfers (20.9% and 32.6%) were significantly lower as compared to day 5 fresh and vitrified warmed day 5 blastocyst transfers (40.3% and 56.1%, 36.3%, and 52.6%). However, there was no significant difference in the live birth rates across the three groups (group 1: 37.6%, group 2: 40.3%, and group 3: 28.2%).CONCLUSION:No statistically significant difference was observed in live birth rates between fresh day 5 blastocyst transfers and vitrified warmed day 5/6 blastocyst transfers. Vitrification of blastocysts using solid surface methodology is an efficient method of cryopreservation.

Effect of BMP15 and/or AMH during in vitro maturation of oocytes from involuntarily culled dairy cows

“…In addition, these blastocysts showed arrested (slower) development (80% in early blastocyst from involuntarily culled dairy cows versus 32% in beef cattle). This is indicative of reduced embryo quality (Muthukumar et al, ; Shapiro, Daneshmand, Garner, Aguirre, & Thomas, ; Sugimura et al, ; Mellisho et al, ). Developmental speed of embryos has been considered a criterion to predict embryo competence; in fact, embryos must follow the developmental program of their species to have a normal development (Rooke et al, ; Sugimura et al, ; Van Soom, Ysebaert, & de Kruif, ).…”

Extracellular vesicles secreted during blastulation show viability of bovine embryos

“…Besides, relationship between embryo competence and developmental kinetics have been reported for early cleavage (Kaith et al 2015, Milazzotto et al 2016, early blastulation (Shapiro et al 2008, Muthukumar et al 2013, and early hatching (Utsunomiya et al 2004). Thus, morpho kinetic parameters may be helpful in improving classical embryo selection (Meseguer et al 2011, Kaith et al 2015, Milewski et al 2016.…”

Comparison of pregnancy outcomes after vitrification at the cleavage and blastocyst stage: a meta-analysis

“…Each stage has its own inherent advantages [13,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. Blastocyst transfer (BT) results in a higher implantation rate (IR) and a better clinical pregnancy rate than cleavage-stage transfer [31,32], with a smaller number of transferred embryos [33][34][35]. Extended culture and transfer of blastocysts increase the synchronization of the endometrium and permits the selection of more advanced embryos considered best suited for transfer [33,36].…”