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Review
. 2024 Nov 26;13(12):978.
doi: 10.3390/biology13120978.

Oocytes Quality Assessment-The Current Insight: A Systematic Review

Mohd Faizal Ahmad  1 , Marjanu Hikmah Elias  2 , Norazilah Mat Jin  3 , Muhammad Azrai Abu  1 , Saiful Effendi Syafruddin  4 , Ani Amelia Zainuddin  1 , Nao Suzuki  5 , Abdul Kadir Abdul Karim  1
Affiliations
Review

Oocytes Quality Assessment-The Current Insight: A Systematic Review

Mohd Faizal Ahmad et al. Biology (Basel). .

Abstract

An overall in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome is dynamic. Good oocyte quality is important for achieving a better IVF pregnancy. Various methods have been used for OQ assessment (OQA). However, due to inconclusive evidence, one method's superiority has not been proposed over others. Thus, OQA should be consolidated based on the current evidence for this matter. Our study aims to summarize the current OQA used and compare their recommended methods. Our results revealed that the optimal OQA for cost-effectiveness and clinical implementation is still via morphological assessment. The current method most opted for is total oocyte scoring. Although other methods-follicular fluid evaluation, mitochondria spindle assessment, or live zona imaging-can be applied with better precision, due to cost, additional tools, and expertise, and they should cater to research purposes and selected centers. Our results added value as a current strategy for optimizing OQA in IVF practice, aiming at cost-effectiveness and reproducibility for better clinical implementation.

Keywords: in vitro fertilization (IVF); oocytes morphology; oocytes quality assessment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of this study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Basic oocytes morphology assessment.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Oocytes morphology characteristic. (A) Normal oocytes morphology; (B) abnormal pb size; (C) abnormal PVS; (D) oval shape oocytes; (E) multiple vacuoles with abnormal PVS; (F) coarse ooplasm with vacuole.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Spindle assessment (the degree measured based on PB).
Figure 4
Figure 4
The zona birefringence.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Types of OQ assessment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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