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Factors associated with embryo mosaicism: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

Purpose

Evaluate which factors are involved in the increased rate of mosaicism in embryos.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed. After an exhaustive search of the literature, a total of seven papers were included in the analysis. In addition, data collected from IVF cycles performed in our fertility clinic were also analysed. Day of biopsy, embryo quality, maternal and paternal age and seminal quality were the chosen factors to be studied.

Results

The results of the meta-analysis show that neither embryo quality nor seminal quality were related to mosaic embryo rate (OR: 1.09; 95% CI: 0.94–1.28 and OR: 1.10; 95% CI: 0.87–1.37, respectively). A positive association was observed for the variable “biopsy day” with embryos biopsied at day 6 or 7 having the highest rate of mosaicism (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01–1.11). In opposite to what happens with aneuploidy rate, which increases with maternal age, embryo mosaicism is higher in younger women (<34 years) rather than in older ones (≥34 years) (OR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.92–0.98). However, for the “paternal age” factor, no association with mosaicism was found (OR: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.90–1.21).

Conclusions

With the present study, we can conclude that the factors related to the presence of mosaicism in embryos are the embryo biopsy day and maternal age. The rest of the studied factors showed no significant relationship with mosaicism. These results are of great importance as knowing the possible causes leading to mosaicism helps to improve the clinical results of reproductive treatments.

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Data Availability

The authors confirm that the data supporting this article are available under request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Biology Department, Instituto Bernabeu, Avda. Albufereta 31, 03016, Alicante, Spain

    A Cascales, R Morales, A Castro, JA Ortiz & B Lledo

  2. Reproductive Biology, Instituto Bernabeu, Alicante, Spain

    J Ten

  3. Reproductive Medicine, Instituto Bernabeu, Alicante, Spain

    A Bernabeu & R Bernabeu

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  1. A Cascales
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  2. R Morales
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  3. A Castro
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  4. JA Ortiz
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Correspondence to R Morales.

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Appendix. Systematic review search strategies

Appendix. Systematic review search strategies

PubMed—(“semen quality”[Title/Abstract] OR “embryo”[Title/Abstract] OR “preimplantation diagnosis”[Title/Abstract] OR “blastocyst”[Title/Abstract] OR “blastocysts”[Title/Abstract]) AND (“Mosaicism”[Title/Abstract] OR “embryo mosaicism”[Title/Abstract]) Filters: from 2016 to 2022.

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Cascales, A., Morales, R., Castro, A. et al. Factors associated with embryo mosaicism: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Assist Reprod Genet 40, 2317–2324 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-023-02914-9

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