BLASTOCYST EUPLOIDY RATES ARE NOT AFFECTED BY INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION (ICSI) VERSUS CONVENTIONAL INSEMINATION

Abstract

To investigate whether embryo euploidy rates are affected by the method of oocyte insemination (ICSI vs. conventional insemination) within the same cohort of eggs. Single center retrospective cohort study. Only non-male factor patients were included. Patients’ eggs were divided into two groups after ova retrieval. In the first group, the eggs were stripped and mature eggs were fertilized by ICSI. In the second group, cumulus oocyte complexes were co-cultured with 200,000/ML sperm overnight (conventional insemination). Fertilization was checked between 16-18 hours after either ICSI or conventional insemination, and the fertilized embryos were cultured up to day 6. Trophectoderm biopsy and PGT-A analysis were performed at the blastocyst stage. The blastulation rates and euploidy rates were calculated for each patient using paired Student T-test. Data from a total number of 46 non-male factor patients were collected (mean age 36.6 years). There were 217 and 117 blastocysts biopsied in the ICSI and conventional insemination groups with an average blastulation rate of 54.4% vs. 53.3% (P=0.82), respectively. There were also no significant differences observed in the euploidy rates between ICSI and conventional insemination groups, respectively (49.2% vs. 45.2%, P=0.49). This study compared the effect of fertilization methods on euploidy rates using the same cohort of eggs. Results indicate that the blastulation and euploidy rates were not affected by the method of oocyte fertilization. Larger data set may be needed for further study.