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Hyaluronan-enriched transfer medium improves outcome in patients with multiple embryo transfer failures

Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics volume 29, pages 679–685 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

To ascertain whether the use of hyaluronan-enriched transfer medium (HETM) improves pregnancy and implantation rates among embryo transfer patients with a history of multiple implantation failures.

Methods

Patients (n = 314) under the age of 40 and with a history of multiple unsuccessful embryo transfers were enrolled. There were three groups of patients: those undergoing fresh embryo transfer (fresh ET [n = 111]), those undergoing vitrified-warmed ET in the natural cycle (WET-N [n = 101]) and those undergoing WET in a hormone replacement cycle (WET-H [n = 102]). On the day of ET, patients were randomized to HETM (0.5 mg/ml hyaluronan) or control medium containing no hyaluronan. Only patients with good quality embryos on day 3 were included.

Results

For all three patients groups (fresh ET, WET-N and WET-H) pregnancy rates (37.5 %, 31.4 % and 41.2 %, respectively) were significantly higher when using HETM compared with control medium (10.9 %, 10.0 % and 15.7 %, respectively; p < 0.05), and implantation rates when using HETM were also significantly higher compared with control medium (p < 0.05). Miscarriage rates were similar in both groups.

Conclusion

HETM significantly increased pregnancy and implantation rates among embryo transfer patients with a history of multiple unsuccessful implantations–regardless of method used to prepare the endometrium.

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Affiliations

  1. Division of Reproductive Medicine, Sugiyama Clinic, 1-53-1, Ohara, Setagaya, Tokyo, 156-0041, Japan

    Koji Nakagawa, Chie Takahashi, Yayoi Nishi, Hiroyasu Jyuen, Rie Sugiyama, Yasushi Kuribayashi & Rikikazu Sugiyama

Authors
  1. Koji Nakagawa
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  2. Chie Takahashi
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  3. Yayoi Nishi
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  4. Hiroyasu Jyuen
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  5. Rie Sugiyama
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  6. Yasushi Kuribayashi
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  7. Rikikazu Sugiyama
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Koji Nakagawa.

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Capsule

HETM significantly increased pregnancy and implantation rates among patients with a history of multiple unsuccessful implantations–regardless of method used to prepare the endometrium.

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Nakagawa, K., Takahashi, C., Nishi, Y. et al. Hyaluronan-enriched transfer medium improves outcome in patients with multiple embryo transfer failures. J Assist Reprod Genet 29, 679–685 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-012-9758-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-012-9758-2

Keywords

  • Hyaluronan
  • Vitrified-warmed embryo
  • Multiple embryo transfer failures
  • Implantation
  • Natural cycle
  • Hormone replacement cycle