Unaltered timing of embryo development in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS): a time-lapse study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Unaltered timing of embryo development in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

T2 - a time-lapse study

AU - Sundvall, Linda

AU - Kirkegaard, Kirstine

AU - Ingerslev, Hans Jakob

AU - Knudsen, Ulla Breth

PY - 2015/5/1

Y1 - 2015/5/1

N2 - PURPOSE: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of female infertility. Factors other than anovulation, such as low embryo quality have been suggested to contribute to the infertility in these women. This 2-year retrospective study used timelapse technology to investigate the PCOS-influence on timing of development in the pre-implantation embryo (primary endpoint). The secondary outcome measure was live birth rates after elective single-embryo transfer.METHODS: In total, 313 embryos from 43 PCOS women, and 1075 embryos from 174 non-PCOS women undergoing assisted reproduction were included. All embryos were monitored until day 6. Differences in embryo kinetics were tested in a covariance regression model to account for potential confounding variables: female age, BMI, fertilization method and male infertility.RESULTS: Time to initiate compaction and reach the morula stage as well as the duration of the 4th cleavage division was significantly shorter in PCOS embryos compared with non-PCOS embryos. No other kinetic differences were found at any time-points annotated. The proportion of multi-nucleated cells at the 2-cell stage was significantly higher in PCOS embryos compared with non-PCOS embryos. The live birth rates were comparable between the two groups.CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the causative factor for subfertility in PCOS is not related to timing of development in the pre-implantation embryo.

AB - PURPOSE: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of female infertility. Factors other than anovulation, such as low embryo quality have been suggested to contribute to the infertility in these women. This 2-year retrospective study used timelapse technology to investigate the PCOS-influence on timing of development in the pre-implantation embryo (primary endpoint). The secondary outcome measure was live birth rates after elective single-embryo transfer.METHODS: In total, 313 embryos from 43 PCOS women, and 1075 embryos from 174 non-PCOS women undergoing assisted reproduction were included. All embryos were monitored until day 6. Differences in embryo kinetics were tested in a covariance regression model to account for potential confounding variables: female age, BMI, fertilization method and male infertility.RESULTS: Time to initiate compaction and reach the morula stage as well as the duration of the 4th cleavage division was significantly shorter in PCOS embryos compared with non-PCOS embryos. No other kinetic differences were found at any time-points annotated. The proportion of multi-nucleated cells at the 2-cell stage was significantly higher in PCOS embryos compared with non-PCOS embryos. The live birth rates were comparable between the two groups.CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the causative factor for subfertility in PCOS is not related to timing of development in the pre-implantation embryo.

U2 - 10.1007/s10815-015-0488-0

DO - 10.1007/s10815-015-0488-0

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25925351

SN - 1058-0468

JO - Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics

JF - Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics

ER -