Abstract
The laboratory aspects of in vitro fertilization (IVF) include the assessment of gametes and embryos as well as their preparation for fertilization by conventional or assisted means. The human oocyte must have completed metaphase II before they are ready for fertilization. The next step includes the process for sperm isolation that is used for conventional fertilization or intracytoplasmic injection (ICSI), which consists of insertion of a single spermatozoon directly into the oocyte cytoplasm. Fertilization assessments are performed 15–18 h after insemination for both IVF and ICSI procedures. Embryos can be assessed and graded daily while they are in culture. Standard morphologic methods of grading can be applied according to observations made on embryo development until their transfer to the uterus on day 3 (cleaved embryo stage) or on day 5 or 6 at the blastocyst stage. Good quality embryos that are not transferred can be cryopreserved by slow freezing or vitrification technique.
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Abbreviations
- Immature oocytes:
-
A stage of meiosis prior to metaphase of meiosis II (MII)
- In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes:
-
A procedure in which eggs are collected from antral follicles at a stage prior to selection and dominance
- Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI):
-
A procedure where a single spermatozoon is injected directly into the oocyte cytoplasm
- Normal fertilization:
-
Characterized by the presence of two pronuclei, one male and one female
- Cleaved stage embryo transfer:
-
Transfer of an embryo 72 h post fertilization—typically has seven to eight cells
- Blastocyst stage embryo transfer:
-
Transfer of an embryo on day 5 or 6 at the blastocyst stage, consisting of a blastocele and depending upon developmental stage, can contain more than 100 cells
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Acknowledgements
The author would like to acknowledge the contributions of Drs Beth Plante, Gary D. Smith, and Sandra Ann Carson who were the authors of this chapter in the previous edition.
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Bormann, C.L. (2017). Assisted Reproductive Technology: Laboratory Aspects. In: Falcone, T., Hurd, W. (eds) Clinical Reproductive Medicine and Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52210-4_18
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52210-4_18
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