Revealing the secret life of pre-implantation embryos by time-lapse monitoring: A review

Abstract

High implantation success following in vitro fertilization cycles are achieved via the transfer of embryos with the highest developmental competence. Multiple pregnancies as a result of the transfer of several embryos per cycle accompany with various complication. Thus, single-embryo transfer (SET) is the preferred practice in assisted reproductive technique (ART) treatment. In order to improve the pregnancy rate for SET, embryologists need reliable biomarkers to aid their selection of embryos with the highest developmental potential. Time-lapse technology is a noninvasive alternative conventional microscopic assessment. It provides uninterrupted and continues the survey of embryo development to transfer day. Today, there are four time-lapse systems that are commercially available for ART centers. In world and Iran, the first time lapse babies were born in 2010 and 2015, respectively, conceived by SET. Here, we review the use of time-lapse monitoring in the observation of embryogenesis as well as its role in SET. Although, the findings from our review support common use of time-lapse monitoring in ART centers; but, future large studies assessing this system in well-designed trials are necessary.

IMSI procedure improves clinical outcomes and embryo morphokinetics in patients with different aetiologies of male infertility

“…Morphokinetic facts also help the embryologists to categorise unclear timing varieties between developing times in embryos with similar form (Yang et al, ). The time‐lapse monitoring system (TLM) has prepared unceasing observing of embryo growth during the culture (Faramarzi, Khalili, Ashourzadeh, & Palmerini, ; Faramarzi, Khalili, Micara, & Agha‐Rahimi, ). Only one study assessed the developing dynamics of IMSI‐derived embryos in teratozoospermia patients using TLM (Knez, Tomazevic, Vrtacnik‐Bokal, & Virant‐Klun, ).…”

Is there any correlation between sperm parameters and chromatin quality with embryo morphokinetics in patients with male infertility?

“…Miscarriage to the healthy embryos with highest implantation potential can result in failed IVF outcomes. It may also cause multiple pregnancies, when numerous embryos are transferred with neonatal and maternal complications (Faramarzi, Khalili, Micara, & Agha-Rahimi, 2017;Kirkegaard, Ahlstrom, Ingerslev, & Hardarson, 2015). Embryo grading systems based on morphology still remain the favourite manner of identifying embryonic development (Chamayou et al, 2013).…”

Does rescue in vitro maturation of germinal vesicle stage oocytes impair embryo morphokinetics development?

“…Over recent decades, the competence of embryo development has been commonly assessed by static conventional morphological criteria including blastomere number and symmetry, anucleated fragmentation rate, multinucleation, etc. These morphological evaluations of embryos are limited at daily discrete time points (Faramarzi et al , 2017c). Conventional morphological assessments have provided limited information about how embryos are generated from conventional IVM and rescue IVM oocytes (Son et al , 2008, Lee et al , 2016).…”