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Embryo catheter loading and embryo culture techniques: results of a worldwide web-based survey

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

Abstract

Purpose

To identify trends in embryo catheter loading and embryo culture techniques performed worldwide.

Methods

A retrospective evaluation using the results of a web-based survey, (IVFWorldwide (www.IVF-worldwide.com), was performed.

Results

Responses from 265 centers in 71 countries were obtained. Most centers (97 %) prefered a catheter with its orifice on top, with only 3 % preferring a catheter with the orifice on its side; 41 % preferred a catheter marked for clear ultrasound view. The most commonly-reported methods of embryo loading were medium-air-embryo-airmedium (42 %), medium in catheter with embryo at end (20 %) and medium-air-embryo (15 %). In 68 % of centers the final volume of the catheter was up to 0.3 ml, with only 19 % using 0.3-0.5 ml and 1 % using 0.5-0.7 ml. Using reduced oxygen concentrations for embryo culture was divided between those who used it in combination with the twogas system (34 %) and those who did not use it at all (39 %); 24 % reported using a three-gas system. Most clinics using reduced oxygen concentrations used it throughout the entire culture period. Half of centers (51 %) reported using reduced oxygen concentrations for the entire IVF population while 6 % reserved it only for blastocyst transfer. The use of sequential media was highly dominant with 40 % reporting its use.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Mindy S. Christianson & Yulian Zhao

  2. Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

    Gon Shoham

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, 76100, Israel

    Irit Granot

  4. European Center for Motherhood, Warsaw, Poland

    Anat Safran

  5. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Ayatallah Khafagy

  6. IVF Centre, The Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong

    Milton Leong

  7. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, 76100, Israel

    Zeev Shoham

Authors
  1. Mindy S. Christianson
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  2. Yulian Zhao
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  3. Gon Shoham
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  4. Irit Granot
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  5. Anat Safran
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  6. Ayatallah Khafagy
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  7. Milton Leong
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  8. Zeev Shoham
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mindy S. Christianson.

Additional information

Capsule A worldwide survey of fertility centers demonstrates many common trends in embryo catheter loading and embryo culture techniques as well as several areas of variation.

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Christianson, M.S., Zhao, Y., Shoham, G. et al. Embryo catheter loading and embryo culture techniques: results of a worldwide web-based survey. J Assist Reprod Genet 31, 1029–1036 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-014-0250-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-014-0250-z

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