Introduction of blastocyst culture and transfer for all patients in an in vitro fertilization program

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the nonselective application of extended embryo culture on the outcome of IVF. Design: Retrospective analysis. Setting: Private practice assisted reproductive technology center. Patient(s): Seven hundred ninety nonselected patients undergoing IVF with controlled ovarian stimulation. Intervention(s): For day 3 ET, multicell embryos were cultured in human tubal fluid medium and 12% synthetic serum substitute. For day 5 ET, embryos were cultured for 48 hours in S1 medium and then for 48 hours in S2 medium. Main Outcome Measure(s): Implantation rate (determined by total no. of visualized gestational sacs), ongoing pregnancy rate, and number of embryos available for ET. Res..