Abstract
Purpose: The purpose was to compare the outcomes betweenday-5 blastocyst and day-2 embryo transfers.
Methods: Infertile women who accepted the ovarian hyperstimulationand oocyte retrieval were divided: Group 1, day2 embryo transfer, group 2, cultured to day 5 in serum-freesequential culture medium and transfer. Early embryoquality and growth, blastocyst formation and quality,implantation rate (IR) and pregnancy rates (PR) weredetected.
Results: Total blastocyst formation rate was 49.4%. Betterearly embryo quality (days 2, 3) and higher day 3 blastomerenumber possess higher blastocyst formation rate. The IR forday 2 and day 5 embryos were 10.8% and 22.2%, respectively.The PR in both groups were comparable (37.3% vs. 41.8%).
Conclusions: Blastocyst transfer has higher IR and comparablePR as those of day 2 embryo transfer. Early embryoqualities and day 3 blastomere number are useful in predictingthe final blastocyst formation. Blastocyst formationrate is not related to maternal age, infertile causes, inseminationmethods, and early embryo number.
Keywords: Blastocyst, embryo transfer, prolonged culture, sequential culture medium
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