Defragmentation of low grade day 3 embryos resulted in sustained reduction in fragmentation, but did not improve compaction or blastulation rates.

In a prospective randomized fashion, this study evaluated embryo development in vitro after defragmentation versus assisted hatching alone of low grade day 3 embryos. Although a sustained decrease in day 5 fragmentation was observed in the defragmented group versus the assisted hatching only group, no difference in compaction rates or blastula formation rates were appreciated.