Abstract:

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sequential vs. single-step media on early human embryos development and the embryos’ implantation potential. Materials and methods:This retrospective study included patients who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment at the Mediterranean University Reproductive Centre between December 2014 and December 2015. The electronic database was screened to identify the type of culture media used for IVF. A hundred four women whose embryos were cultivated in sequential media were retrospectively matched for age and metaphase-2 oocytes with 144 women whose embryos were cultivated in single-step media. Embryo quality and pregnancy outcomes were compared between sequential and single-step media groups. Results: The number of fertilized oocytes, high-quality embryos on day 2-3 and developmental rate of high-quality embryos from fertilized oocytes were found to be comparable between the groups (p>0.05). However, the number of high quality blastocysts (p=0.048) and developmental rate of high quality blastocysts from high quality cleavage stage embryos (p=0.043) were significantly higher in single-step media group. Subsequently, singlestep media group had more embryos transferred at blastocyst stage (p0.001). Dealing with the pregnancy outcomes, clinical pregnancy per embryo transfer was found to be higher in single-step media group (p=0.038). There was no significant difference in implantation rates between the groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: We have shown that a single step culture media supports high-quality embryo development equivalently to established sequential media. Moreover, higher number of blastocysts available for transfer with single step media, might result in a concurrent improve in pregnancy rates. Pam Med J 2016;9(3):212-218

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