Abstract
BackgroundTo evaluate the association of patient and IVF cycle characteristics with blastulation rate and formation of high-quality blastocystsResultsWe analyzed autologous blastocyst cycles from 2013 to 2017. Cycles were subdivided into low (< 33%), intermediate (33–66%), and high (> 66%) blastulation rates. Embryo quality was assigned by embryologists using Gardner Criteria. R statistical package was used, and the blastulation groups were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA) for continuous variables and chi-squared tests for categorical variables. The Bonferroni correction was used to adjust for multiple comparisons. One hundred seventeen IVF cycles met our inclusion criteria. Of these, 20 (17.1%) had low, 74 (63.2%) had intermediate, and 23 (19.7%) had high blastulation rates. Low blastulation rate was associated with a lower number of blastocysts, including fewer high-quality blastocysts. The mean number of oocytes retrieved was highest (18.1) in the group with the lowest blastulation rate, and lowest (13.4) in those with the highest blastulation rate, although this did not reach statistical significance. There were no significant differences between blastulation rates and age, gravidity, prior live birth, anti-mullerian hormone, estradiol and progesterone levels on the day of ovulation trigger, follicle-stimulating hormone dose, or fertility diagnosis.ConclusionsHigh blastulation rate is associated with a greater number of blastocysts, including a greater number of high-quality blastocysts. Higher oocyte yield, however, is not associated with improved blastulation rates. Blastulation rates, blastocyst number, and quality remain difficult to predict based on cycle characteristics alone, and oocyte yield may not be an accurate predictor of either outcome.
Highlights
To evaluate the association of patient and in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle characteristics with blastulation rate and formation of high-quality blastocysts
Precis High oocyte yield may be associated with a lower blastulation rate and a lower number of high-quality blastocysts
The main objective of this study was to evaluate the patient and IVF cycle characteristics resulting in high blastulation rates and that result in the formation of the highest quality embryos. This is a retrospective study of IVF cycles in patients at the Duke Fertility Center (DFC) from January 2013– March 2017
Summary
To evaluate the association of patient and IVF cycle characteristics with blastulation rate and formation of high-quality blastocysts. The transfer of blastocysts during in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles offers several advantages to the transfer of cleavage stage embryos. These include, but are not limited to, increased implantation rates, increased live birth rates, improved selection of embryos based on. It is difficult to predict which cleavage stage embryos (days 2–3), if any, will become viable blastocysts (days 5–6). Jones et al Middle East Fertility Society Journal (2019) 24:4 to know which of those cleavage stage embryos, if any, will become high-quality blastocysts. The ability to better predict the expected number and quality of blastocysts during an IVF cycle would have a significant impact on the way that those patients are counselled and potentially on how their IVF cycles are managed
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