Embryoman (2025)

28/04/2025

Time for the weekly IVF research brief!

Every week on my website, Remembryo, I highlight new IVF research from the previous week. Here are the top 3 new studies I think are most helpful for patients.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟏. A meta-analysis combined the results of 33 studies that ranked the importance of embryo expansion, trophectoderm grade and inner cell mass grade. They found that the trophectoderm grade was most influential in predicting live birth, followed by the ICM grade and expansion.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟐. This publication reviews the causes of thin endometrium (less than 7 mm), highlighting that it is often linked to a history of uterine trauma (such as a D&C), which can trigger an "accelerated aging process" that results in a thin endometrium with impaired and dysfunctional immune cells.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟑. This meta-analysis combined the results of 5 studies to investigate the optimal time interval between hysteroscopy and embryo transfer, finding that embryo transfer within 120 days (especially within 50 days if no major problems were found) leads to better pregnancy and live birth rates.

I’m short on time, so comment below which study you want me to feature in detail next week on Remembryo!

✅ Want the full list of new IVF studies from last week? Find all the briefs and links on Remembryo (link in the comments).
✉️ Want to stay up to date on new IVF research? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter.

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭? 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤-𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

25/04/2025

For the first time, microplastics have been detected in human ovarian follicular fluid, according to a study in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (reported by The Guardian).

Researchers found the particles in 14 of 18 participants, raising concerns about their potential impact on fertility.

This is part of a larger study being conducted by University of Rome researcher Luigi Montano, who has previously detected microplastics in urine and semen. Montano believes that microplastics may be behind the decrease in s***m counts reported worldwide.

The study identified only a "possible correlation" between microplastic levels and reproductive health in the women, and experts caution that further research is needed to determine how much exposure may lead to harmful effects.

Microplastics can carry toxic chemicals like bisphenol, phthalates, and PFAS that are linked to hormone disruption and could harm reproductive health.

Montano is now investigating whether reducing plastic use in the kitchen and switching to an organic diet can lower microplastic levels in the body.

Check out all the details on The Guardian, link is in the comments. Want to stay up to date on new IVF research and news? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter!

𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤-𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

23/04/2025

Blastocysts have a water-filled cavity called a blastocoel. This water could form sharp ice crystals during freezing that could damage the embryo. Before blastocysts are frozen, they typically “collapsed” by making a tiny hole in the embryo to allow this water to escape from the blastocoel.

This causes the blastocysts to begin to shrink, like a deflated balloon. After thawing, the embryo begins to take up water so it can re-expand. How much the blastocyst re-expands after thaw has been linked to success rates. Re-expansion is a sign of a healthy embryo.

Masato Yoneyama and colleagues evaluated pregnancy outcomes for blastocysts that re-expanded quickly (about 10 minutes after thaw).

They found that blastocysts that re-expand to near full re-expansion after thaw have a higher chance of achieving a pregnancy and live birth.

The embryos that re-expanded quickly were likely to be higher quality.

Based on the results of this study, the authors note that the embryologist can do a quick check on re-expansion after thaw to help decide if another embryo should be thawed for certain patients.

Generally, this study agrees with other research -- embryos that fail to re-expand after thaw have lower chances of success.

Check out all the details on Remembryo, link is in my bio. Want to stay up to date on new IVF research and news? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter!

𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐲𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞-𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐰? 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤? 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤-𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

22/04/2025

Many IVF cycles result in immature eggs, which are normally discarded, but continued culture of these immature eggs by rescue in vitro maturation (rescue IVM) can cause some of them to become mature.

A recent study by Balsam Al Hashimi and colleagues used rescue IVM to mature eggs that were originally immature after egg retrieval in patients with a poor prognosis.

They found that over half of the immature eggs became mature after rescue IVM, with nearly two-thirds fertilizing.

This study reported on 27 live births from embryos derived from rescue IVM eggs, representing about 1 in 12 poor prognosis patients that wouldn't have had a live birth otherwise.

There were no differences in gestation time, birth weights or delivery methods from these births.

This study generally agrees with other research, although there isn't much research on rescue IVM and the sample sizes are low.

Check out all the details on Remembryo, link is in the comments. Want to stay up to date on new IVF research and news? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter!

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐞 𝐈𝐕𝐌? 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐬? 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤-𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

21/04/2025

Time for the weekly IVF research brief!

Each week, I take a brief look at new IVF research on my website, Remembryo. Below are the top 3 new IVF studies that I think are most helpful for patients.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟏. A meta-analysis combined the results of 9 studies investigating endometriosis treatment on IVF outcomes with GnRH agonists for 1 or 3 months (like leuprorelin/lupron depot) or administration of progestins. They found no advantage in using these treatments to improve clinical pregnancy and live birth rates, although some protocols showed improvements in implantation rates.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟐. This study found that PGT-A shortened the time to live birth and improved outcomes in women aged 38 and older, but provided no significant benefit for younger women undergoing IVF.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟑. This meta-analysis combined the results of 16 studies that investigated the use of abnormally fertilized zygotes (1PN and 0PN). They found that 1PN and 0PN blastocysts had lower clinical pregnancy and live birth rates compared to normally fertilized 2PN blastocysts.

I’m short on time and can’t review all these studies, so let me know in the comments which one you'd like to learn more about in detail and I can feature it next week on Remembryo. Sign up to my newsletter to make sure you don’t miss it! (send me a DM with your email to be added). Check out more research briefs and links to all the studies on Remembryo, link is in the comments.

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭? 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤-𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

21/04/2025

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16/04/2025

Uterine peristalsis involves rhythmic contractions within the uterus that change with the menstrual cycle to assist s***m travel and embryo implantation.

These contractions generally decrease during the luteal phase, providing a stable environment needed for successful embryo implantation.

Angela Vidal and colleagues combined the results of 5 studies involving IVF patients who had uterine contractility measured by ultrasound before embryo transfer.

They found that the odds of pregnancy decreased by about half in patients with high vs low uterine contractility.

This was done only with cleavage stage embryo transfers, so it's not clear how these results would look with blastocyst stage transfers.

There is limited data on this topic, and the researchers call for more studies to see if routine clinical measurements of uterine contractility would be useful, especially for patients with recurrent implantation failure.

Check out all the details on Remembryo, link is in the comments. Want to stay up to date on new IVF research and news? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter!

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐲𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫? 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤-𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

15/04/2025

ICSI is a widely used procedure in IVF, involving the injection of a single s***m into an egg, but its success is dependent on the skill of the embryologist.

Gerardo Mendizabal-Ruiz and colleagues have developed a fully automated, digitally controlled ICSI system that has led to a live birth.

This ICSI system was operated remotely from New York, USA, approximately 3700 kilometers away from the procedure location in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The system was designed to overcome variability in human performance to give more consistent results.

Not all steps were automated, like preparing the ICSI dish or setting up the ICSI microscope.

Five eggs were inseminated with the ICSI system, resulting in two blastocysts with one leading to a healthy live birth.

The development of this system has been a work in progress for about a decade, but only recent advancements in AI and robotics have made it possible to automate the procedure.

Check out all the details on Remembryo, link is in the comments. Want to stay up to date on new IVF research and news? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐕𝐅? 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤-𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

14/04/2025

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14/04/2025

Time for the weekly IVF research brief!

Each week, I take a brief look at new IVF research on my website, Remembryo. Below are the top 3 new IVF studies that I think are most helpful for patients.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟏. A multicenter randomized controlled trial found that ICSI did not improve cumulative live birth rates compared to conventional IVF, suggesting conventional IVF should be the preferred first-line treatment for patients without severe male factor infertility.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟐. This review evaluates the potential of day 7 embryos, which are less commonly used due to lower blastulation and higher aneuploidy rates compared to day 5 and 6 embryos, but still show significant pregnancy and live birth rates.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟑. This study found that frozen blastocysts that re-expand 9-11 minutes after thawing had a higher chance of pregnancy.

I’m short on time and can’t review all these studies, so let me know in the comments which one you'd like to learn more about in detail and I can feature it next week on Remembryo. Sign up to my newsletter to make sure you don’t miss it! (send me a DM with your email to be added). Check out more research briefs and links to all the studies on Remembryo, link is in the comments.

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭? 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤-𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

10/04/2025

One of the problems with PGT-A is that it uses a single biopsy of about 5-10 cells to represent the whole embryo, which could be hundreds of cells in size.

Jian Xu and colleagues performed PGT-A on whole embryos at different stages of development, including arrested embryos that have stopped developing for at least 24 h.

They found that arrested embryos can have a high rate of chaotic abnormalities depending on the stage of development, particularly in cleavage stage embryos.

Some arrested embryos were euploid! Although this isn't too surprising, since embryos can arrest for many reasons (ie. metabolic issues).

They also found that over 80% of certain groups of blastocysts were euploid, many of which had a C-graded ICM or trophectoderm. Even CC graded embryos had high euploid rates depending on their developmental stage!

Of course, whole embryo PGT-A can't be performed because it destroys the embryo, but it's interesting to see what all the cells of the embryo have to show, and not just a tiny part of the trophectoderm.

Check out all the details on Remembryo, link is in the comments. Want to stay up to date on new IVF research and news? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐬? 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤-𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

09/04/2025

Recently, there has been increasing news coverage about restorative reproductive medicine (RRM) as an alternative to IVF, following a report from The Heritage Foundation, a US conservative think tank.

Through regular doctor visits, RRM identifies and addresses medical problems (e.g. hormonal disorders, anatomical lesions, infections) that are affecting fertility, in order to promote conception through s*xual in*******se. No insemination outside of the body is permitted, so assisted reproductive technologies are avoided.

Depending on the patient, RRM can take months to years to achieve a live birth. Adoption is encouraged if RRM fails.

It was developed in the 1970s and is closely tied to Catholic teachings, which influences its practices and restrictions -- such as the sanctity of marital in*******se and prohibitions on donor eggs and s***m, gestational carriers, and contraception.

The Heritage Foundation's report positions RRM as a morally and medically superior alternative to IVF, repeatedly using personhood language to assert that embryos are human lives with rights. It labels procedures like PGT as eugenics and criticizes IVF extensively.

The report claims that RRM has comparable or higher success rates than IVF, however there is little research on RRM, with studies showing high dropout rates (likely due to lengthy two-year treatment periods) and no direct comparisons with IVF.

While more affordable ($9000 USD for an 18-month treatment), the treatment times can be very long and a variety of patient groups may not be suitable for RRM (ie. some forms of male factor, tubal infertility, etc. that would require IVF).

I’m speculating here, but the recent release of this report aligns with President Trump's executive order to improve IVF affordability, and given The Heritage Foundation's influence, it’s possible that RRM may be considered as an IVF alternative in the US.

I reviewed RRM in more detail on Remembryo, link is in the comments. Want to stay up to date on new IVF research and news? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter!

𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤-𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

08/04/2025

C-graded blastocysts have acceptable live birth rates.

In the graph, you can see live birth rates for untested good quality embryos (AA, AB or BA) and poor quality embryos with a C-graded ICM/trophectoderm (first/second letter).

These are results from a 2023 study by Haowen Zou and colleagues.

What isn't illustrated here is that the day of the embryo also has an impact (day 5 > day 6 > day 7), and female age.

CC graded embryos had the lowest chance of working, which I didn’t include in the graph because it may be sensitive information for some (I’ll include this stat in the comments).

Poor quality embryos are sometimes discarded by clinics, and this study shows that these embryos can have a decent chance of working!

More details on Remembryo, link is in the comments. Want to stay up to date on new IVF research and news? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter!

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐲𝐨? 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤? 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤-𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

07/04/2025

Time for the weekly IVF research brief!

Here, I take a brief look at 3 of the top new IVF studies from last week that I think are most helpful for patients.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟏. A study investigated unrecognized risk factors for recurrent implantation failure, finding that AMH emerged as the strongest predictor, with chronic endometritis, intrauterine adhesions, and BMI also identified as significant risk factors. This suggests that these elements should be considered in managing RIF alongside traditional factors like age.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟐. A meta-analysis combined the results of 17 studies and found that high uterine contractility at the time of embryo transfer significantly reduced pregnancy rates, underscoring the need to consider uterine peristalsis as a factor in fertility treatments.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟑. A study found that rescue in vitro maturation (IVM) can yield fertilization and live birth rates comparable to standard procedures, with nearly 10% of IVF cycles in poor prognosis leading to live births that wouldn't have otherwise.

I’m short on time and can’t review all these studies, so let me know in the comments which one you'd like to learn more about in detail and I can feature it next week on my IVF research news website, Remembryo. Sign up to my newsletter to make sure you don’t miss it! (send me a DM with your email to be added). Check out more research briefs and links to all the studies on Remembryo, link is in the comments.

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭? 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤-𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

04/04/2025

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which includes the NIH, CDC, FDA and other US health departments, has undergone significant restructuring under the leadership of RFK Jr. and Elon Musk's DOGE initiative, with about 20,000 positions being eliminated.

Some programs within these departments have been severely impacted, including the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) that focuses on improving healthcare safety and delivery, and the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) that collects and analyzes data to improve maternal and infant health.

Included in the cuts were the CDC's infertility branch, employing about 40 people, that aims to collect and report success rates and other statistics from all US IVF clinics, as mandated by Congress in 1992.

“There will be no experts on infertility who will be able to inform public policy, brief members of Congress, publish articles and reports, and advance public awareness on the causes and treatments for infertility,” said Barbara Collura, president and CEO of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association.

RFK Jr. said yesterday that about 20% of the cuts were mistakes, with plans to rehire those affected, although it's not yet clear if the CDC's infertility branch will be reinstated. The HHS also announced a new “Administration for a Healthy America” which might assume the responsibilities of the CDC's branch.

What's also troubling is that RFK Jr. has recently signed a rule to end public comment on HHS decisions, which would normally allow healthcare providers and patients to offer perspectives on draft decisions and rules issued by the HHS.

Besides the CDC, the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) also collects data from US IVF clinics, although their reporting is less complete. SART reports on its member clinics, formerly in collaboration with the CDC, which represent about 80-90% of US clinics.

Lots of sources for this information that I’ve put in the comments. Want to stay up to date on new IVF research and news? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter!

𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤-𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

03/04/2025

Cumulative live birth rates (CLBR) refer to the overall chance of a live birth after a number of transfers.

A new study by L Dhaenens and colleagues measured CLBR after up to 15 consecutive transfers of untested embryos.

They compared CLBR for cleavage and blastocyst stage transfers, with higher live births in those transferring blastocysts.

They also looked at single blastocyst transfers for a range of age groups, finding that patients

02/04/2025

Jaiwen Hsu, a childhood cancer survivor, received the first transplant of s***m-producing stem cells to potentially restore his fertility, the Associated Press reports.

This procedure involved reimplanting preserved testicular cells that had been frozen during Hsu's childhood in an attempt to restore his fertility.

Hsu had testicular tissue removed before his cancer treatment at age 11, when he was prepubescent and therefore wasn't producing s***m. This tissue, which contains stem cells that could produce s***m, was reimplanted when he was 26.

While it's still uncertain whether the reimplanted tissue will produce s***m in Hsu's case, similar experiments in monkeys have successfully resulted in the birth of a healthy baby monkey.

Research is also being conducted on immature ovarian tissue for female childhood cancer survivors.

Check out all the details on the Associated Press (not my reporting), link is in the comments. Want to stay up to date on new IVF research and news? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter!

𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤-𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

01/04/2025

Are blastocysts more likely to be male or female?

Barry Perlman and colleagues analyzed over 250,000 frozen embryo transfers to see if blastocyst (day 5) vs cleavage stage (day 3) transfers led to more male or female births.

They found that cleavage stage transfers resulted in 50.5% male and 49.5% female births, while blastocysts resulted in slightly more males -- 51.9% male and 48.1% female births.

These differences aren't high enough for anyone to accurately choose the embryo’s s*x (for that, you need PGT-A). However, it is interesting that blastocysts produce slightly more males!

Other studies have found the same results, with male birth rates as high as 54.9%.

The reason for this might be because male embryos develop more quickly than females, potentially because of delays in development due to X inactivation (females have two copies of the X chromosome) or genes on the Y chromosome that speed up development.

Generally, the most developed embryos are transferred first, which might lead to a slightly skewed male:female birth ratio.

Check out all the details on Remembryo, link is in the comments. Want to stay up to date on new IVF research and news? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter!

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐱 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐯𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐲𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬? 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤-𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

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