Microbial contamination of embryo cultures in an ART laboratory: sources and management.

Background: Although rare, microbial contamination of culture dishes occasionally occurs in our IVF/ICSI programme. Despite stringent culture conditions and the use of medium containing penicillin and streptomycin, an increasing number of infections was observed once they were routinely recorded. In this study, 95 cases of contaminated culture dishes were examined, in an attempt to identify possible causes.

A case study of the applicability of a prediction model for the selection of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization for single embryo transfer in another center.

Objective: To evaluate the application in a different fertility clinic of a prediction model for selecting IVF patients for elective single embryo transfer.

Design: Retrospective analysis of a large database obtained from a tertiary infertility center.

Setting: University medical center.

FSH receptor genotype is associated with pregnancy but not with ovarian response in IVF.

Two very common single nucleotide polymorphisms at positions 307 and 680 in exon 10 of the FSH receptor gene have been associated with ovarian response in IVF. This observational study evaluated the role of the FSH receptor genotype in the prediction of poor response and clinical pregnancy in IVF in comparison with other markers, such as age, basal FSH, anti-Müllerian hormone and antral follicle count. In addition, the in-vitro cAMP response towards recombinant FSH in cultured granulosa cells of patients with different FSH receptor genotypes was determined.

A high number of oocytes obtained after ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection is not associated with decreased pregnancy outcome.

Objective: To investigate the possible negative effects of a strong ovarian response on oocyte quality.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Tertiary academic center.