Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Clinical Trial
. 1999 Nov;16(10):529-34.
doi: 10.1023/a:1020597104326.

Clinical outcome of day 2 versus day 3 embryo transfer using serum-free culture media: a prospective randomized study

G Ertzeid  1 , P O Dale, T Tanbo, R Storeng, E Kjekshus, T Abyholm
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Clinical outcome of day 2 versus day 3 embryo transfer using serum-free culture media: a prospective randomized study

G Ertzeid et al. J Assist Reprod Genet. 1999 Nov.

Abstract

Purpose: The objective was to evaluate whether extending the embryo culture period from 2 to 3 days would yield a more optimal selection of viable embryos, thereby increasing the implantation and live birth rates.

Methods: Patients undergoing in vitro fertilization with at least one oocyte fertilized were prospectively randomized to 2 or 3 days of embryo culture in serum-free media. On the basis of their morphology and cleavage rate, a maximum of three embryos was selected for transfer.

Results: Embryos transferred on day 2 or day 3 were similar morphologically, however, a higher proportion of retarded embryos was observed on day 3. The implantation rate was 15.8 and 14.3% for day 2 and day 3 transfers, respectively. The increase in live birth rate from 18.5 to 22.6%, possibly suggesting a better embryo selection on day 3, was not statistically significant.

Conclusions: Extending the embryo culture period from 2 to 3 days had no effect on implantation and live birth rates.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Braude P, Bolton V, Moore S. Human gene expression first occurs between the four-and eight cell of preimplantation development. Nature. 1988;332:459–461. - PubMed
    1. Steer CV, Mills CL, Tan SL, Campell S, Edwards RG. The cumulative embryo score: A predictive embryo scoring technique to select the optimal number of embryos to transfer in an in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer programme. Hum Reprod. 1992;7:117–119. - PubMed
    1. Wheeler CA, Cole BF, Frishman GN, Seifer DB, Lovegreen SB, Hackett RJ. Predicting probabilities of pregnancy and multiple gestation from in vitro fertilization—A new model. Obstet Gynecol. 1998;91:696–700. - PubMed
    1. Holst N, Bertheussen K, Forsdal F, Håkonsen MB, Hansen LJ, Nielsen HI. Optimization and simplification of culture conditions in human in vitro fertilization (IVF) and preembryo replacement by serum-free media. J Vitro Fertil Embryo Transfer. 1990;7:47–53. - PubMed
    1. Weathersbee PS, Pool TB, Ord T. Synthetic serum substitute (SSS): A globulin-enriched protein supplement for human embryo culture. J Assist Reprod Genet. 1995;12:354–360. - PubMed

Publication types

Substances