In our centre, the implantation rate of frozen blastocysts (cryopreserved using vitrification)was 20,3% (Van Landuyt et al. 2011). This implantation rate is lower when compared to data from other observational studies. Retrospective studies have shown that artificial shrinkage of the blastocoelic cavity (also called collapse) and dehydration of the blastocyst just before vitrification can have a positive effect on the survival after warming. This collapse can be induced by using a laser. The study of Iwayama et al. 2010 has shown a similar survival rate but an increase in the implantation rate of collapsed blastocysts compared to non-collapsed blastocysts. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of artificial shrinkage by laser-induced collapse on the implantation potential of vitrified-warmed day 5 or day 6 blastocyst stage embryos in a prospective randomised controlled trial.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
270
inducing collapse (= artificial shrinkage) by applying 1 or 2 laser pulses between trophectoderm cells of the blastocyst to be vitrified
Centre for Reproductive Medicine
Brussels, Belgium
implantation rate of the embryo in the first frozen transfer cycle
patients are enrolled in the study at oocyte retrieval. When patient is not pregnant after fresh embryo transfer, she comes back to use the frozen embryos at least one month after the initial inclusion. After the frozen embryo transfer, poshCG is measured 14 days after transfer. Approximately 10 weeks after transfer, implantation rate of the frozen embryos is assessed. This is the number of intra-uterine gestational sacs seen on ultrasound on the number of embryos transferred
Time frame: approximately 10 weeks after the first frozen embryo transfer
survival rate of warmed blastocysts
this is the morphological assessment of survival of the blastocyst after warming
Time frame: 0-30 minutes
implantation rate per warmed blastocyst
implantation rate of the transferred embryo per embryo initially warmed in that frozen transfer cycle.
Time frame: approximately 10 weeks after first frozen transfer
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