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Effects of transfer of embryos independently cultured in essential and sequential culture media on pregnancy rates in assisted reproduction cycles

  • ASSISTED REPRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

Several culture media are available to be used in ART. However it is uncertain whether embryos would preferably benefit from one type of medium or the association of different media.

Methods

We performed this study to evaluate the impact of simultaneous transfer of embryos independently cultured in two distinct culture media, on pregnancy outcome. A total of 722 couples who underwent infertility treatment were sequentially allocated into three groups: those who had half of the embryos individually cultured in MEM and the other half cultured in sequential media (MEM + Seq Group) (n = 243); those who had all embryos cultured only in sequential medium (Seq Group) (n = 239); and those who had all embryos cultured only in MEM (MEM Group) (n = 240).

Results

The pregnancy rate was higher in the MEM + Seq group (51.8 %) than the Seq group (36.7 %) (p < 0.001). However the pregnancy rate observed in the MEM group was similar to the others (44.2 %). When a logistic regression test was applied it demonstrated that the number of transferred embryos did not interfere in the pregnancy rates.

Conclusions

Our results suggests that offering different culture conditions for sibling embryos with subsequent transfer of embryos that were kept in distinct culture media, might increase pregnancy rates in assisted reproduction cycles.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Origen—Center for Reproductive Medicine, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Selmo Geber, Renata Bossi, Fernando Guimarães, Marcello Valle & Marcos Sampaio

  2. Medical School of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Selmo Geber

  3. Av. Contorno 7747 Lourdes, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 30 110 120, Brazil

    Selmo Geber

Authors
  1. Selmo Geber
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  2. Renata Bossi
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  3. Fernando Guimarães
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  4. Marcello Valle
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  5. Marcos Sampaio
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Selmo Geber.

Additional information

Capsule Offering different culture conditions for sibling embryos with subsequent transfer of embryos that were kept in distinct culture media, might increase pregnancy rates in assisted reproduction cycles.

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Geber, S., Bossi, R., Guimarães, F. et al. Effects of transfer of embryos independently cultured in essential and sequential culture media on pregnancy rates in assisted reproduction cycles. J Assist Reprod Genet 29, 1097–1101 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-012-9835-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-012-9835-6

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