Prediction of the rates of fertilization, cleavage, and pregnancy success by cumulus-coronal morphology in an in vitro fertilization program

• Published in: Fertility and sterility Vol. 72; no. 3; pp. 412 - 417
• Main Authors: Ng, Siu T., Chang, Tai-Ho, Wu, T-C.Jackson
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.09.1999; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Birth control; Cleavage Stage, Ovum; Cumulus-coronal morphology; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; in vitro fertilization; Infertility, Female - therapy; Logistic Models; Male; Medical sciences; Ovary - cytology; predictive value; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Retrospective Studies; Sterility. Assisted procreation; in vitro fertilization; pregnancy outcome; predictive value; Cumulus-coronal morphology; Human; Cumulus oophorus; Fertilization; Assisted procreation; Germinal cell; In vitro fertilization embryo transfer; Pregnancy; Ovary; Female genital system; Cleavage; Woman; Ovarian follicle; Oocyte
• ISSN: 0015-0282; 1556-5653
• DOI: 10.1016/S0015-0282(99)00290-3

Objective: To examine the relation between the grading of cumulus-coronal morphology at oocyte retrieval and the rates of fertilization, cleavage, and pregnancy success in IVF-ET cycles. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: University-affiliated medical center. Patient(s): Infertile women who underwent IVF-ET treatment. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Fertilization and cleavage of the oocytes and the pregnancy outcome. Result(s): Mature grade 3 cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) constituted the highest percentage among all grades and had a higher fertilization rate than COCs of other grades (77% versus 65%, 43%, and 28% for grades 2, 1, and 4, respectively). The cleavage and polyspermy rates did not correlate with cumulus-coronal morphology grading. The pregnancy rate was higher in cycles with >50% grade 3 COCs than in cycles with ≤50% grade 3 COCs (32% versus 16%). In cycles with >80% grade 3 COCs, the pregnancy rate was 57%. The correlation between the percentage of grade 3 COCs and the pregnancy rate was independent of patient age and the number of COCs retrieved. Conclusion(s): The cumulus-coronal morphology grade correlates with the fertilization rate but not with the cleavage or polyspermy rate. In vitro fertilization cycles that have a greater percentage of grade 3 COCs have an increased chance of resulting in pregnancy. The cumulus-coronal morphology grade predicts pregnancy success in IVF-ET cycles.