The Addition of Antioxidants Every 12 Hour to the Culture Medium Significantly Increases the Rates of Total Usable and Expanded Blastocysts in Recipient Patients: A Prospective Randomized Control Study of 553 Sibling Donor Oocytes

Abstract

The primary diagnoses associated with their infertility included: diminished ovarian reserve (n¼9), male factor infertility (n¼3), endometriosis (n¼3), hypothalamic amenorrhea (n¼2), FSH receptor defect (n¼1), Grave's disease (n¼1), advanced maternal age (n¼1), unexplained infertility (n¼7), and PCOS (n¼17). Two patients were excluded due to insufficient RNA on endometrial biopsy. Chi-square analysis demonstrated patients with PCOS have a twofold (OR¼2.03; p¼0.29) increased likelihood of non-receptive endometrial lining by ERA analysis as compared to those without a diagnosis of PCOS.CONCLUSIONS: Though not statistically significant, the results of the study are clinically relevant as our investigation demonstrates that the odds of having non-receptive endometrial lining for patients with PCOS is at least two times that of patients who are not affected by PCOS. Further investigation on this subject is warranted as an early ERA may decrease the incidence of recurrent implantation failure in PCOS patients.IMPACT STATEMENT: Based on our findings, physicians may have a lower threshold to offer ERA to PCOS patients compared to other infertility diagnoses.

Oxidative Stress and Assisted Reproduction: A Comprehensive Review of Its Pathophysiological Role and Strategies for Optimizing Embryo Culture Environment

“…The best quality-controlled IVF laboratories avoid drastic excessive ROS insults to embryos and gametes coming from out-of-range culture conditions. This strategy may not be enough to completely scavenge excess ROS levels present in the culture medium compared to the ROS levels present in follicular fluid [123,[180][181][182]. Excessive concentrations of ROS results in cell death, however, posed cells may exhibit an adaptive response to oxidation.…”