Duration of cryostorage is not associated with rates of thaw survival, fertilization, blastulation and ploidy, or pregnancy outcomes of vitrified human oocytes.

Purpose: This study is to evaluate duration of oocyte cryostorage and association with thaw survival, fertilization, blastulation, ploidy rates, and pregnancy outcomes in patients seeking fertility preservation.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study to evaluate clinical outcomes in patients who underwent fertility preservation from 2011 to 2023 via oocyte vitrification for non-oncologic indications. Primary outcome was thaw survival rate.

A multi-center evaluation of a novel IVF cryostorage device in an active clinical setting.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the function, and usability of a novel automated software-guided cryostorage system in an active IVF laboratory setting. The investigational device (ID) was installed at 3 IVF laboratories (sites: α, β, and γ). A total of 15 embryologists were trained to use the ID.

Effect of various contraceptives on oocyte yield and maturation in patients undergoing planned oocyte cryopreservation.

Research Question: Do the various forms of hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptives have any association with ovarian stimulation outcomes, such as oocyte yield and maturation, in patients undergoing planned oocyte cryopreservation (POC)?

Design: This retrospective cohort study included all patients who underwent POC cycles between 2011 and 2023. The use of types of contraception before a POC cycle was recorded. The study evaluated the median number of cumulus-oocyte complexes obtained after vaginal oocyte retrieval and the proportion of metaphase II oocytes that underwent vitrification among all the cohorts.

Effect of postthaw change in embryo score on single euploid embryo transfer success rates.

Objective: To assess whether the change in embryo morphology from precryopreservation to postthaw is associated with the embryo transfer success rates in single euploid embryo transfer cycles.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Academic affiliated fertility clinic.

Clinical implementation of algorithm-based embryo selection is associated with improved pregnancy outcomes in single vitrified warmed euploid embryo transfers.

Purpose: To assess whether utilization of a mathematical ranking algorithm for assistance with embryo selection improves clinical outcomes compared with traditional embryo selection via morphologic grading in single vitrified warmed euploid embryo transfers (euploid SETs).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study in a single, academic center from September 2016 to February 2020 was performed. A total of 4320 euploid SETs met inclusion criteria and were included in the study.

What is the reproductive potential of day 7 euploid embryos?

Study Question: What is the rate of euploidy and the reproductive potential of embryos biopsied after 6 days of development?

Summary Answer: Embryos biopsied after 6 days of development have higher rates of aneuploidy; however, day 7 euploid embryos selected at transfer can achieve acceptable pregnancy rates and live birth (LB) outcomes.

What Is Known Already: Recent publications have shown promising treatment results after euploid day 7 embryo transfers (ETs), albeit these studies were limited by small sample sizes. Whereas the current clinical standard has been to discard embryos that do not reach expansion by day 6 of development, the lack of robust data surrounding the clinical utility of day 7 embryos warrants further evaluation.

Hatching status before embryo transfer is not correlated with implantation rate in chromosomally screened blastocysts.

Study Question: Do the reproductive outcomes from the transfer of fully hatched (FH) blastocysts differ from those of not fully hatched (NFH) blastocysts?

Summary Answer: Biochemical pregnancy rate (BPR), implantation rate (IR), live birth rate (LBR) and early pregnancy loss (EPL) rate are similar in FH and NFH single euploid blastocyst embryo transfers.

What Is Known Already: The use of extended culture and PGS often leads to transfer of an embryo that is well developed and frequently FH from the zona pellucida. Without the protection of the zona, an FH embryo could be vulnerable to trauma during the transfer procedure.

Optimizing human oocyte cryopreservation for fertility preservation patients: should we mature then freeze or freeze then mature?

Objective: To evaluate the maturation and post-thaw survival rates of immature oocytes to determine whether in vitro maturation (IVM) should be attempted prior to or after cryopreservation.

Design: Nonrandomized observational study.

Setting: Private academic and clinical reproductive center.

Commercially available enhanced in vitro maturation medium does not improve maturation of germinal vesicle and metaphase I oocytes in standard in vitro fertilization cases.

Improvements in in vitro maturation techniques have focused on culture optimization to increase oocyte maturation rates. Specialized culture media, now commercially available, did not perform significantly better than standard IVF culture media for maturation of immature oocytes in our normal IVF cases.