Embryo culture medium has no significant effect on birth weight and length of in vitro fertilization singletons

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of 2 commercially available media on birth weight and length in a group of singleton live births ≥37 weeks. STUDY DESIGN: University hospital-based cohort study, conducted between January 2007 and April 2013, on patients undergoing IVF-ICSI. We analyzed 1,831 fresh cycles retrospectively. Cook Medical Embryo Culture Sequential System Fertilization medium and Cleavage medium was used in 1,134 cycles, while embryos from 697 cycles were cultured in Universal IVF Medium and ISM1 (Medicult). A total of 244 nullipara, who delivered live newborns from singleton pregnancies ≥37 weeks, were included in the study. Additionally, we analyzed only patients <41 years of age with a body mass index <30 kg/m2. We excluded patients with pregnancy-related complications including vanishing twin syndrome, diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia, and intrauterine growth restriction. Birth weight and length of newborns were compared between the 2 culture media groups: Cook (n=157) vs. Medicult (n=87). RESULTS: When comparing 157 live-born singletons in the Cook group and 87 live-born singletons in the Medicult group, no significant association could be found between the type of culture medium and mean birth weight (3,290.4±406.0 vs. 3,280.0±416.5, p=0.849) or mean birth length (52.04±2.17 vs. 51.36±2.17, p=0.322). CONCLUSION: We found that culture of human embryos in either Cook or Medicult media did not show a significant effect on birth weight or length of full-term singletons. © Journal of Reproductive Medicine®, Inc.