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Unaltered timing of embryo development in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS): a time-lapse study

  • Embryo Biology
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of female infertility. Factors other than anovulation, such as low embryo quality have been suggested to contribute to the infertility in these women. This 2-year retrospective study used timelapse technology to investigate the PCOS-influence on timing of development in the pre-implantation embryo (primary endpoint). The secondary outcome measure was live birth rates after elective single-embryo transfer.

Methods

In total, 313 embryos from 43 PCOS women, and 1075 embryos from 174 non-PCOS women undergoing assisted reproduction were included. All embryos were monitored until day 6. Differences in embryo kinetics were tested in a covariance regression model to account for potential confounding variables: female age, BMI, fertilization method and male infertility.

Results

Time to initiate compaction and reach the morula stage as well as the duration of the 4th cleavage division was significantly shorter in PCOS embryos compared with non-PCOS embryos. No other kinetic differences were found at any time-points annotated. The proportion of multi-nucleated cells at the 2-cell stage was significantly higher in PCOS embryos compared with non-PCOS embryos. The live birth rates were comparable between the two groups.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that the causative factor for subfertility in PCOS is not related to timing of development in the pre-implantation embryo.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the patients and staff at the Fertility Clinic, Aarhus University Hospital. The authors are grateful for statistical support provided by Morten Frydenberg, University of Aarhus.

Authors’ roles

J.I and U.B.K conceived the study and designed the project. L.S. drafted the manuscript. L.S. and K.K. did the acquisition and interpretation of data.

K.K., J.I and U.B.K performed critical revision of the manuscript. All authors have given their final approval of present version to be published.

Funding

Funding for the present study was provided by Aarhus University. Research at the Fertility Clinic, Aarhus University Hospital is supported by an unrestricted grant from MSD and Ferring.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Fertility Clinic, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark

    Linda Sundvall, Kirstine Kirkegaard, Hans Jakob Ingerslev & Ulla Breth Knudsen

  2. Health, Aarhus University, Vennelyst Boulevard 9, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark

    Linda Sundvall, Kirstine Kirkegaard, Hans Jakob Ingerslev & Ulla Breth Knudsen

Authors
  1. Linda Sundvall
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  2. Kirstine Kirkegaard
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  3. Hans Jakob Ingerslev
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  4. Ulla Breth Knudsen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Linda Sundvall.

Additional information

Capsule By the use of time-lapse analysis, we demonstrate that the timing of development in the pre-implantation embryo from women with PCOS is comparable to that of non-PCOS embryos. The findings suggest that the causative factor for subfertility in PCOS is not related to timing of development in the pre-implantation embryo.

Trial registration number: NCT01953146

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Sundvall, L., Kirkegaard, K., Ingerslev, H.J. et al. Unaltered timing of embryo development in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS): a time-lapse study. J Assist Reprod Genet 32, 1031–1042 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-015-0488-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-015-0488-0

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