The merits of blastocyst versus cleavage stage embryo transfer: A Cochrane review

Human Reproduction

Volumn 19, Issue 4, 2004, Pages 795-807

  Blake, Debbie A ^a,b   Proctor, M ^a,c   Johnson, N P ^a,b,c,d  

^a NATIONAL WOMEN S HOSPITAL   (New Zealand)

^b AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY   (New Zealand)

^c UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND   (New Zealand)

^d Fertility Plus   (New Zealand)

Author keywords

Blastocyst; Cleavage stage; Embryo; IVF; Randomized controlled trial

Indexed keywords

CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN; PROGESTERONE; RECOMBINANT FOLLITROPIN;

BIRTH RATE; BLASTOCYST; CLINICAL ARTICLE; CLINICAL TRIAL; COCHRANE LIBRARY; CONFIDENCE INTERVAL; CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL; CONTROLLED STUDY; DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE; EMBRYO; EMBRYO TRANSFER; FEMALE; FEMALE INFERTILITY; FERTILIZATION IN VITRO; HORMONAL REGULATION; HUMAN; MAJOR CLINICAL STUDY; MENSTRUATION DISORDER; META ANALYSIS; MULTIPLE PREGNANCY; NIDATION; OOCYTE CLEAVAGE; OVULATION INDUCTION; PREGNANCY COMPLICATION; RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL; REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS; REVIEW; STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE; SYSTEMATIC REVIEW;

EID: 1842532459     PISSN: 02681161     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deh104     Document Type: Review

References (78)

1. Boyarsky CY, Vasilevskaya SE and Boykov MV (2001) Blastocyst transfer 'a la carte' and routine third day transfer: A randomized controlled study. Hum Reprod 16,Abstracts of the 17th Annual Meeting of ESHRE, Lausanne, pp 8-9.
2. Coskun S, Hollanders J, Al-Hassan S, Al-Sufyan H, Al-Mayman H and Jaroudi K (2000) Day 5 versus day 3 embryo transfer: A controlled randomized trial. Hum Reprod 15,1947-1952.
3. Demylle D, Godin PA, Van Langendonckt A, Wynes C, Beliard A and Donnez J (2000) Day 3 versus Day 5/6 randomly elected transfers at the first two IVF attempts. Hum Reprod 15, Abstracts of the 16th Annual Meeting of ESHRE, Bologna, 0-022.
4. Gardner DK, Schoolcraft WB, Wagley L, Schlenker T, Stevens J and Hesla J (1998a) A prospective randomized trial of blastocyst culture and transfer in in-vitro fertilization. Hum Reprod 13,3434-3440.
5. Janny L, Vye P, Pouly JL, Hazout A, Dumont M, Nicollet B and Ménézo Y (1993) Cocultures: Diagnostic and therapeutic contribution in assisted reproductive technologies. Contracept Fertil Sex 21,391-394.
6. Karaki RZ, Samarraie SS, Younis NA, Lahloub TM and Ibrahim MH (2002) Blastocyst culture and transfer: A step toward improved in vitro fertilization outcome. Fertil Steril 77,114-118.
7. Levitas E, Lunenfeld E, Shoham-Vardi I, Hackmon-Ram R, Albotiano S, Sonin Y, Har-Vardi I, Gorga Y and Potashnik G (2000) Blastocyst stage versus 48-72h embryo transfer in women who failed to conceive on three or more IVF treatment cycles: A prospective, randomized study. Hum Reprod 15, Abstracts of the 16th Annual Meeting of ESHRE, Bologna, O-021.
8. Levron J, Shulman A, Bider D, Seidman D, Levin T and Dor J (2002) A prospective randomized study comparing day 3 with blastocyst stage embryo transfer. Fertil Steril 77,1300-1301.
9. Livingstone M and Bowman M (2001) Single blastocyst transfer: a prospective randomised trial. Abstracts of the 17th World Congress on Fertility and Sterility, Melbourne, p 218.
10. Motta LA, Alegretti JR, Pico M, Sousa JW, Baracat EC and Serafini P (1998a) Blastocyst versus cleaving embryo transfer: A prospective randomized trial. Fertil Steril 70(3 Suppl 1),S17.
11. Motta ELA, Alegretti JR, Pico M, Castellotti DS, Baracat EC and Serafini P (1998b) Practice of blastocyst transfer: How much does it help in the management of embryo cyropreservation? Fertil Steril, 70(3 Suppl 1),S110.
12. Rienzi L, Ubaldi F, Iacobelli M, Ferrero S, Minasi MG, Martinez F, Tesarik J and Greco E (2002) Day 3 embryo transfer with combined evaluation at the pronuclear and cleavage stages compares favourably with day 5 blastocyst transfer. Hum Reprod 17,1852-1855.
13. Schillaci R, Castelli A, Vassiliadis A, Venezia R, Sciacca GM, Perino A and Cittadini E (2002) Blastocyst stage versus day 2 embryo transfer in IVF cycles. Hum Reprod 17, Abstracts of the 18th Annual Meeting of ESHRE, Vienna, P-418.
14. Van der Auwera I, Debrock S, Spiessens C, Afschrift H, Bakelants E, Mculeman C, Meeuwis L and D'Hooge TM (2002) A prospective randomized study: Day 2 versus day 5 embryo transfer. Hum Reprod 17,1507-1512.
15. Gudmundsson J, Lundqvist M, Rova K, Simberg N and Lundkvist O (1998) The outcome of IVF treatment after two or five days of embryo culture. Hum Reprod 13, Abstracts of the 14th Annual Meeting of ESHRE, Goteborg, 5.
16. Huisman GJ, Fauser BCJM, Eijkemans MJC and Pieters MHEC (2000) Implantation rates after in vitro fertilization and transfer of a maximum of two embryos that have undergone three to five days of culture. Fertil Steril 73,117-121.
17. Plachot M, Mayenga JM, Chouraqui A, Serkine AM, Tesquier L and Belaisch-Allart J (2000) Blastocyst stage transfer: The real benefits compared with early embryo transfer. Hum Reprod 15(Suppl 6),24-30.
18. Scholtes MCW and Zeilmaker GH (1996) A prospective, randomized study of embryo transfer results after 3 or 5 days of embryo culture in in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril 65,1245-1248.
19. Abdelmassih S, Abdelmassih V, Abdelmassih R, Salgueiro LL, Oliveira FG, Esteves SC and Balmaceda JP (1998) The effects of day-2, day-3 and day-5 embryo cultures on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), pregnancy, implantation and abortion rates. Fertil Steril 70(3 Suppl 1),S15.
20. Abdelmassih V, Abdelmassih S, Abdelmassih R and Balmaceda J (1999) Day 3 versus day 5 embryo transfers: Higher implantation rates and less multiple pregnancies with prolonged culture. Hum Reprod, 14, Abstracts of the 15th Annual Meeting of ESHRE, Tours, France, O146, 81.
21. Bolton VN, Wren ME and Parsons JH (1991) Pregnancies after in vitro fertilization and transfer of human blastocysts. Fertil Steril 55,830-832.
22. Bongso A, Fong CY, Matther J, Ng LC, Kumar J and Ng SC (1999) Benefits to human in vitro fertilization of transferring embryos after in vitro embryonic block: Alternatives to day-2 transfers. Assist Reprod 9,70-78.
23. Bungum L, Bungum M and Humaidan P (2002) Blastocyst stage transfer is not better than embryo transfer on day 3. A prospective randomized study. Hum Reprod 17, Abstracts of the 18th Annual Meeting of ESHRE, Vienna, O-151.
24. Cruz JR, Dubey AK, Patel J, Peak D, Hartog B and Gindoff PR (1999) Is blastocyst transfer useful as an alternative treatment for patients with multiple in vitro fertilization failures? Fertil Steril 72,218-220.
25. El Sadek MM and Amer MK (2002) A retrospective comparison of day-3 and day-5 blastocyst transfer: Does blastocyst transfer really impact clinical outcome in ICSI patients? Middle East Fertil Soc J 7,109-114.
26. Fong CY and Bongso A (1998) Comparison of human blastulation rates and total cell number in sequential culture media with and without co-culture. Hum Reprod 14,774-781.
27. Frattarelli JL, Leondires MP, McKeeby JL, Miller BT and Segars JH (2003) Blastocyst transfer decreases multiple pregnancy rates in in vitro fertilization cycles: A randomized controlled trial. Fertil Steril 79,228-230.
28. Gorrill MJ, Kaplan PF, Patton PE and Burry KA (1999) Initial experience with extended culture and blastocyst transfer of cryopreserved embryos. Am J Obstet Gynecol 180,1472-1474.
29. Jones GM, Trounson AO, Lolatgis N and Wood C (1998b) Factors affecting the success of human blastocyst development and pregnancy following in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Fertil Steril 70,1022-1029.
30. Kettel LM, Venier WC, Hummel WP and Chan SYW (1999) Blastocyst transfer significantly improves pregnancy success in an egg donation program. Fertil Steril 71(4 Suppl 1),14S.
31. Kovacic B, Vlaisavljevic V, Reljic M and Gavric Lovrec G (2002) Clinical outcome of day 2 versus day 5 transfer in cycles with one or two developed embryos. Fertil Steril 77,529-536.
32. Letterie GS, Marshall LA and Angle MA (2000) Does blastocyst transfer really impact clinical outcome. Fertil Steril 73(Suppl 1),P2.
33. Levran D, Weissman A, Farhi, J, Nahum H, Zkut H and Glezerman M (1999) The management of patients with repeated implantation failure: A randomised prospective trial. Fertil Steril 72(3 Suppl 1),S30.
34. Levran D, Farhi J, Nahum J, Royburt M, Glezerman M and Weissman A (2002) Prospective evaluation of blastocyst stage transfer versus zygote intrafallopian tube transfer in patients with repeated implantation failure. Fertil Steril 77,971-977.
35. Marek D, Langely M, Gardner DK, Confer N, Doody KM and Doody KJ (1999) Introduction of blastocyst culture and transfer for all patients in an in vitro fertilization program. Fertil Steril 72,1035-1040.
36. Milki AA, Hinckley MD, Fishch JD, Dasig D and Behr B (1999) Comparison of day3-ET to Blastocyst-ET in a similar patient population. Fertil Steril 71(4 Suppl 1),10S.
37. Milki AA, Hinckley MD, Fisch JD, Dasig D and Behr B (2000) Comparison of blastocyst transfer with day 3 embryo transfer in similar patient populations. Fertil Steril 73,126-129.
38. Milki AA, Hinckley MD and Behr B (2002) Comparison of blastocyst transfer to day 3 transfer with assisted hatching in the older patient. Fertil Steril 78,1244-1247.
39. Olivennes F, Hazout A, Lelaidier C, Freitas S, Fanchin R, de Ziegler D and Frydman R (1994) Four indications for embryo transfer at the blastocyst stage. Hum Reprod 9,2367-2373.
40. Patton PE, Sadler-Fredd K and Burry KA (1999) Development and integration of an extended embryo culture program. Fertil Steril 72,418-422.
41. Racowsky C, Jackson KV, Cekleniak NA, Fox JH, Hornstein MD and Ginsburg ES (2000) The number of eight-cell embryos is a key determinant for selecting day 3 or day 5 transfer. Fertil Steril 73,558-564.
42. Rijnders PM and Jansen CAM (1998) The predictive value of day 3 embryo morphology regarding blastocyst formation, pregnancy and implantation rate after day 5 transfer following in-vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Hum Reprod 13,2869-2873.
43. Shapiro BS, Harris DC and Richter DS (1999) Pregnancy rates following blastocyst transfers nearly double among patients using donor eggs. Fertil Steril 71(4 Suppl 1),155.
44. Simon C, Mercader A, Garcia-Velasco J, Nikas G, Moreno C, Remohi J and Pellicer A (1999) Co-culture of human embryos with autologous human endometrial epithelial cells in patients with implantation failure. Fertil Steril 84,2638-2646.
45. Urman B, Balaban B, Alatas C, Aksoy S, Mumcu A and Isiklar A (2002) Zona-intact versus zona-free blastocyst transfer: A prospective, randomized study. Fertil Steril 787,392-396.
46. Van Langendonckt A, Demylle D, Wyns C, Nisolle M and Donnez J (2001) Comparison of G1.2/G2.2 and Sydney IVF cleavage/blastocyst media, as supports for the culture of human embryos: A prospective, randomized, comparative study. Fertil Steril 76,1023-1031.
47. Wilson M, Hartke K, Kiehl M, Rodgers J, Brabec C and Lyles R (2002) Integration of blastocyst transfer for all patients. Fertil Steril 77,693-696.
48. Alves da Motta EL, Alegretti JR, Baracat EC, Olive D and Serafini PC (1998) High implantation and pregnancy rates with transfer of human blastocysts developed in preimplantation stage one and blastocyst media. Fertil Steril 70,659-663.
49. Behr B, Fisch JD, Racowsky C, Miller K, Pool TB and Milki AA (2000) Blastocyst-ET and monozygotic twinning. J Assist Reprod Genet 17,349-351.
50. Blake D, Proctor M, Johnson N and Olive D (2003) Cleavage stage versus blastocyst stage embryo transfer in assisted conception (Cochrane Review). In The Cochrane Library, Issue 3. Oxford Update Software.
51. Borg K, Moller A, Hammar M, Blake D, Hillensjo T and Wikland M (2000) Blastocyst culture - more or less stressful for patients? Hum Reprod 15, Abstracts of the 16th Annual Meeting of ESHRE, Bologna, 48.
52. Braude P, Bolton V and Moore S (1988) Human gene expression first occurs between the four and eight-cell stages of preimplantation development. Nature 332,459-461.
53. Cohen J, Elsner C and Kort HMH (1990) Impairment of hatching process following IVF in the human and improvement of implantation by assisted hatching using micromanipulation. Hum Reprod 5,7-13.
54. Croxatto HB, Fuentaealba B, Diaz S, Pastene L and Tatum HJ (1972) A simple non-surgical technique to obtain unimplanted eggs from human uteri. Am J Obstet Gynecol 112,662-668.
55. Daya S (2003) Pitfalls in the design and analysis of efficacy trials in subfertility. Hum Reprod 18,1005-1009.
56. De Sutter P, Van der Elst J, Coletsier T and Dhont M (2003) Single embryo transfer and multiple pregnancy rate reduction in IVF/ICSI: a 5 year appraisal. Reprod Biomed Online 6, 464-469.
57. De Felici M and Siracusa G (1982) Spontaneous hardening of the zona pellucida of mouse oocytes during in vitro culture. Gamete Res 6,107-113.
58. Gardner DK and Lane M (1998) Culture of viable human blastocysts in defined sequential serum-free media. Hum Reprod 13(Suppl 3),148-159.
59. Gardner DK, Lane M, Calderon I and Leeton J (1996) Environment of the preimplantation human embryo in vivo: Metabolite analysis of oviduct and uterine fluids and metabolism of cumulus cell. Fertil Steril 65,349-353.
60. Gardner DK, Vella P, Lane M, Wagley L, Schlenker T and Schoolcraft WB (1998b) Culture and transfer of human blastocysts increases implantation rates and reduces the need for multiple embryo transfers. Fertil Steril 69,84-88.
61. Gerris J and Van Royen E (2000) Avoiding multiple pregnancies in ART: A plea for single embryos transfer. Hum Reprod 15,1884-1888.
62. Levitas E, Lunenfeld E, Hackmon-Ram R, Sonin Y, Har-Vardi I and Potashnik G (2001) A prospective, randomized study comparing blastocyst stage versus 48-72 h embryo transfer in women failed to conceive three or more in-vitro fertilization treatment cycles. Fertil Steril 76(35),5118.
63. Jansen RP (2003) The effect of female age on the likelihood of a live birth from one in-vitro fertilisation treatment. Med J Aust 178,258-261.
64. Jones GM, Trounson AO, Gardner DK, KauscheA, Lolatgis N and Wood C (1998a) Evolution of a culture protocol for successful blastocyst development and pregnancy. Hum Reprod 13,169-177.
65. Jones GM and Trounson AO (1999) The benefits of extended culture. Hum Reprod 14,1405-1408.
66. Magli MC, Gianaroli L, Munné S and Ferraretti AP (1998) Incidence of chromosomal abnormalities from a morphologically normal cohort of embryos in poor-prognosis patients. J Assist Reprod Genet 15,297-301.
67. Martikainen H, Tiitinen A, Tomas C, Tapanainen J, Orava M, Tuomivaara L, Vilska S, Hyden-Granskog C and Hovatta O (2001) One versus two embryo transfer after IVF and ICSI: A randomized study. Hum Reprod 9,1900-1903.
68. Ménézo YJ, Guerin JF and Czyba JC (1990) Improvement of human embryo development in vitro by coculture on monolayers of Vero cells. Biol Reprod 42,301-306.
69. Ménézo YJ, Chouteau J, Torello J, Girard A and Veiga A (1999) Birth weight and sex ratio after transfer at the blastocyst stage in humans. Fertil Steril 72,221-224.
70. Palmstierna M, Murkes D, Csemizdy G, Andersson O and Wramsby H (1998) Zona pellucida thickness variation and occurrence of visible mononucleated blastomeres in preembryos are associated with a high pregnancy rate in IVF treatments. J Assist Reprod Genet 15,70-75.
71. Puissant F, Van Rysselberge M, Barlow P, Deweze J and Leroy F (1987) Embryo scoring as a prognostic tool in IVF treatment. Hum Reprod 2,705-708.
72. Roseboom TJ, Vermeiden JP, Schoute E, Lens JW and Schats R (1995) The probability of pregnancy after embryo transfer is affected by the age of the patient, cause of infertility, number of embryos transferred and the average morphology score, as revealed by multiple logistic regression analysis. Hum Reprod 10,3035-3041.
73. Steer CV, Mills CL, Tan SL, Campbell S and Edwards RG (1992) 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 7,117-119.
74. Tiitinen A, Unkila-Kallio L, Halttunen M and Hyden-Granskog C (2003) Impact of elective single embryo transfer on the twin pregnancy rate. Hum Reprod 18,1449-1453.
75. Tsirgotis M (1998) Blastocyst stage transfer: Pitfalls and benefits - too soon to abandon practice? Hum Reprod 13,3285-3295.
76. Vail A and Gardener E (2003) Common statistical errors in the design and analysis of subfertility trials. Hum Reprod 18,1000-1004.
77. Van Blerkom J (1993) Development of human embryos to the hatched blastocyst stage in the presence or absence of a monolayer of Vero cells. Hum Reprod 8,1525-1539.
78. Yeung WS, Ho PC, Lau EY and Chan ST (1992) Improved development of human embryos in vitro by a human oviductal cell co-culture system. Hum Reprod 7,1144-1149.