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.

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.