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Human Fertility
an international, multidisciplinary journal dedicated to furthering research and promoting good practice
Volume 19, 2016 - Issue 4
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Original Articles

Grade of the inner cell mass, but not trophectoderm, predicts live birth in fresh blastocyst single transfers

, , , , , , & show all
Pages 254-261 | Received 14 Jul 2015, Accepted 18 Nov 2015, Published online: 14 Sep 2016
 

Abstract

Debate continues over which morphological parameter is most important in selecting blastocysts for transfer. We aimed to investigate which parameter more accurately predicts the occurrence of a live birth by designing a retrospective cohort study of 1084 fresh elective single blastocyst transfers. Primary outcome was live birth rate (LBR) and secondary outcomes were implantation, clinical pregnancy and early pregnancy loss rates. Blastocyst expansion and inner cell mass (ICM), but not trophoectoderm, were associated with LBR in the definitive multivariable regression analysis. When ICM grade dropped from A to C the likelihood of achieving a live birth was reduced by 55% (OR= 0.45, 95% CI 0.26-0.79, p = .005). These results were similar for clinical pregnancy rates. Early pregnancy loss rates of embryos with ICM grade C were more than double (38.0%) compared to those of grades A (15.95%) and B (17.17%, p = .002). The transfer of an embryo with an optimal inner cell mass reduces early pregnancy loss and increases the likelihood of a live birth. We did not find any significant association between trophectoderm and LBR in the multivariable analysis in contrast with recent studies.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank specially Ginny Mounce for her help and collaboration with the preparation of this article.

Disclosure statement

There was no external funding for the purposes of this study. The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

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