Abstract
BackgroundLaser-assisted hatching (LAH) has been widely applied to facilitate blastocyst hatching in IVF-ET treatment, however, the effect of LAH on subsequent development and clinical outcomes of the lower grade cleavage stage embryos (LGCE) remains unknown. Our study aimed at evaluating the effect of LAH on blastocyst formation and the clinical pregnancy outcomes of LGCE embryos after transfer.MethodsA total of 608 cycles of IVF/ICSI treatment from November 2017 to September 2019 were included in our study as follows: 296 in the LAH group and 312 in the N-LAH group. The total blastocyst rate, usable blastocyst rate, good-grade blastocyst rate and clinical pregnancy rate were statistically compared between the two groups.ResultsThe total blastocyst rate (50.7% vs 40.2%, P < 0.001), usable blastocyst rate (31.0% vs 18.6%, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the LAH group than those in the N-LAH group. After analysis of generalized estimating equations, LAH was positively correlated with the blastocyst rate (B = 0.201, OR 95% CI = 1.074–1.393, P = 0.002), usable blastocyst rate (B = 0.478, OR 95% CI = 1.331–1.955, P < 0.001). However, the clinical pregnancy rate after blastocyst transfer did not differ between LAH group and N-LAH group (49.4% vs 40.0%, P > 0.05, respectively).ConclusionsA higher proportion of total blastocysts and usable blastocysts can be obtained by LAH in LGCE, which may be beneficial to the outcome of the IVF/ICSI-ET cycle.
Highlights
Laser-assisted hatching (LAH) has been widely applied to facilitate blastocyst hatching in IVF-ET treatment, the effect of LAH on subsequent development and clinical outcomes of the lower grade cleavage stage embryos (LGCE) remains unknown
A total of 608 cycles which contained 476 cycles with good quality embryos and LGCE, and 132 cycles with only LGCEs. 312 cycles without LAH were defined as N-LAH group, in which 57 cycles (≤ 38 years old) received a frozen blastocyst transfer, while 296 cycles with LAH on day 4 were defined as LAH group, in which 77 cycles (≤ 38 years old) received frozen-thawed embryo (FET)
Our study aimed at evaluating the effect of LAH on blastocyst formation and the clinical pregnancy outcomes of LGCE embryos after transfer
Summary
Laser-assisted hatching (LAH) has been widely applied to facilitate blastocyst hatching in IVF-ET treatment, the effect of LAH on subsequent development and clinical outcomes of the lower grade cleavage stage embryos (LGCE) remains unknown. Our study aimed at evaluating the effect of LAH on blastocyst formation and the clinical pregnancy outcomes of LGCE embryos after transfer. Other authors proposed that this method can’t compensate for the loss of cytoplasmic components in blastomeres resulting from fragmentation, and is not able to improve the blastocyst formation rate. There is so far no evidence-based method that can improve the development of LGCE and blastocyst formation. In treatment cycles where the outcome from transferring LGCE should be optimized, it is crucially important that a practicable and effective method is established which is able to improve the chances of obtaining a blastocyst
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