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Comparative Study
. 2018 Jun 1;22(2):128-133.
doi: 10.5935/1518-0557.20180024.

Comparison of two commercial embryo culture media (SAGE-1 step single medium vs. G1-PLUSTM/G2-PLUSTM sequential media): Influence on in vitro fertilization outcomes and human embryo quality

Iratxe López-Pelayo  1 , Javier María Gutiérrez-Romero  1 , Ana Isabel Mangano Armada  2 , María Mercedes Calero-Ruiz  1 , Pablo Javier Moreno de Acevedo-Yagüe  1
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Comparison of two commercial embryo culture media (SAGE-1 step single medium vs. G1-PLUSTM/G2-PLUSTM sequential media): Influence on in vitro fertilization outcomes and human embryo quality

Iratxe López-Pelayo et al. JBRA Assist Reprod. .

Abstract

Objective: To compare embryo quality, fertilization, implantation, miscarriage and clinical pregnancy rates for embryos cultured in two different commercial culture media until D-2 or D-3.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed 189 cycles performed in 2016. Metaphase II oocytes were microinjected and allocated into single medium (SAGE 1-STEP, Origio) until transferred, frozen or discarded; or, if sequential media were used, the oocytes were cultured in G1-PLUSTM (Vitrolife) up to D-2 or D-3 and in G2-PLUSTM (Vitrolife) to transfer. On the following day, the oocytes were checked for normal fertilization and on D-2 and D-3 for morphological classification. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests in PASW Statistics 18.0.

Results: The fertilization rates were 70.07% for single and 69.11% for sequential media (p=0.736). The mean number of embryos with high morphological quality (class A/B) was higher in the single medium than in the sequential media: D-2 [class A (190 vs. 107, p<0.001), B (133 vs. 118, p=0.018)]; D-3 [class A (40 vs. 19, p=0.048) but without differences in class B (40 vs. 49)]. Consequently, a higher number of embryos cultured in single medium were frozen: 197 (21.00%) vs. sequential: 102 (11.00%), p<0.001. No differences were found in implantation rates (30.16% vs. 25.57%, p=0.520), clinical pregnancy rates (55.88% vs. 41.05%, p=0.213), or miscarriage rates (14.29% vs. 9.52%, p=0.472).

Conclusion: Embryo culture in single medium yields greater efficiency per cycle than in sequential media. Higher embryo quality and quantity were achieved, resulting in more frozen embryos. There were no differences in clinical pregnancy rates.

Keywords: Culture media system; frozen embryos; human embryo development; human embryo quality; pregnancy rates.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

No conflict of interest has been declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
In-vitro fertilization outcomes comparing single vs. sequential media.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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