Cumulative live birth rate in freeze-all cycles is comparable to that of a conventional embryo transfer policy at the cleavage stage but superior at the blastocyst stage.

Objective: To determine whether the freeze-all policy ensures a higher efficacy in terms of cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) in comparison with a conventional fresh/frozen embryo transfer (ET) approach in patients with normal ovarian response.

Design: Retrospective, matched, multicenter cohort study.

Setting: Private IVF centers.

A quantitative approach to blastocyst quality evaluation: morphometric analysis and related IVF outcomes.

Purpose: To quantify blastocyst morphologic parameters with a feasible and standardized tool, investigating their predictive value on implantation outcome.

Method: The study retrospectively analyzes 124 blastocysts from 75 patients. Quantitative measurements of blastocyst expansion, inner cell mass and trophoectoderm were taken using digital image analysis software.

Oocyte slow freezing using a 0.2-0.3 M sucrose concentration protocol: is it really the time to trash the cryopreservation machine?

Objective: To update results on outcomes with frozen/thawed oocytes using a differential sucrose concentration during dehydration (0.2 M) and rehydration (0.3 M), combined with a one-step propanediol exposure.

Comparison of IVF and ICSI when only few oocytes are available for insemination.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) when few eggs available for insemination. A total of 601 women (group A, mean age 31.2 +/- 2.

Cumulative pregnancy rates resulting from the use of fresh and frozen oocytes: 7 years' experience.

Storing supernumerary embryos and transferring them later fully utilizes the reproductive potential of retrieved oocytes, allowing a significant increase in the overall number of pregnancies achieved from a single cycle of ovarian stimulation treatment. As an alternative to embryo cryopreservation, preservation of unfertilized oocytes has been proposed to maximize clinical outcome. This paper presents data concerning the cumulative pregnancy rate after use of fresh and cryopreserved oocytes.

Artificial reproductive technology achievements for optimizing embryo quality.

Evaluation of morphological characteristics, to date, has been the most widely accepted method for the selection of embryos with higher developmental ability and optimization of the outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Improvement in clinical results has also been pursued through attempts to generate embryos of high quality or to identify more reliable selection criteria. This work evaluates the possibility of improving embryo quality and subsequent IVF outcome in situations in which creation of supernumerary embryos is not allowed.

Pregnancies and births after oocyte cryopreservation.

Objective: To determine the potential of oocyte cryopreservation techniques.

Design: Retrospective data analysis.

Setting: A tertiary infertility center.

Endometrial preparation for frozen-thawed embryo transfer with or without pretreatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist.

Objective: To test the efficacy of endometrial preparation with exogenous steroids, without pretreatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist, in women with normal ovarian function.

Design: Prospective randomized study.

Setting: Private outpatient infertility clinic.