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Artificial shrinkage of blastocoel using a laser pulse prior to vitrification improves clinical outcome

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

Abstract

Purpose

Blastocysts contain a large amount of fluid in the blastocoel, which may pose a risk for ice crystal formation during vitrification. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of laser-induced artificial shrinkage of blastocoel before vitrification on clinical outcome.

Methods

Patients were divided into two groups: a control group with untreated, expanded blastocysts (n = 115) and a study group with blastocoel artificially eliminated by a laser pulse prior to vitrification (n = 309). Blastocyst survival, clinical pregnancy, and implantation rates were compared.

Result(s)

The survival rate was significantly higher in the study group compared with the control group (97.3 and 74.9 %, respectively; p > 0.01). The clinical pregnancy and implantation rates of the study group were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than that of the control group (clinical pregnancy, 67.2 vs. 41.1 %; implantation, 39.1 vs. 24.5 %.

Conclusion(s)

This study demonstrated that the removal of blastocoel fluid before vitrification by laser pulse of in vitro-produced human blastocysts significantly improves blastocyst survival, clinical pregnancy, and implantation rates.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank TopLab Company for financial support (Grant no. 001005).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. TopLab Company for ART Laboratories Consultations and Training, Ground floor, 27 Zohair Sabry st., 1st district, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt

    Ehab Darwish & Yasmin Magdi

Authors
  1. Ehab Darwish
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  2. Yasmin Magdi
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Correspondence to Yasmin Magdi.

Additional information

Capsule This study demonstrated that the removal of blastocoel fluid before vitrification by laser pulse of in vitro-produced human blastocysts significantly improves blastocyst survival, clinical pregnancy, and implantation rates.

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Darwish, E., Magdi, Y. Artificial shrinkage of blastocoel using a laser pulse prior to vitrification improves clinical outcome. J Assist Reprod Genet 33, 467–471 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-016-0662-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-016-0662-z

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