The effectiveness of infertility treatment involving transfer of cryopreserved embryos obtained after autologous embryo-cumulus cells co-culture in women with repeated inplantation failure

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of infertility treatment in the programs of cryo-embryo transfer, when embryos were obtained after autologous co-culture with cumulus cells in assisted reproductive technology (ART) programs.

Materials and methods: 198 married couples with repeated implantation failure (at least 2 attempts) were examined during the period of the study. The couples underwent IVF treatment with frozen-thawed embryo transfer into the uterine cavity. 114 couples underwent the program of autologous embryo-cumulus cells co-culture, and 84 couples underwent IVF treatment with frozen-thawed embryo transfer without using this program. Preparation of all women for cryo-transfer included cyclic hormonal treatment. Only one embryo was thawed and transferred into the uterine cavity. Pregnancy and birth rates were assessed.

Results: The study showed that autologous embryo-cumulus cells co-culture increased pregnancy rate in the group of women aged ≤35 years from 26.3% to 48.2% (OR 1.83; 95% CI 1.00–3.32) and significantly dicreases pregnancy rate in women of later reproductive age from 41.3% to 20.6% (OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.15–0.88). There was no significant difference in birth rates between the groups.

Conclusion: The results obtained in the study make it possible to recommend using autologous embryo-cumulus cells co-culture in women aged ≤35 years, who had repeated failed attempts of ART in history, to improve the effectiveness of infertility treatment.