embryolab_logo2
EL | EN | DE | RO | SR | RU | FR
logo-white-wideEmbryolab logo whitelogo-white-widelogo-white-wide
  • I can
    • Assisted Reproduction
    • Treatments
    • Personalized protocols
  • I want
    • Services
    • Donation program
    • Fertility Preservation
    • Care
  • I trust
    • Our team
    • Find out about us
    • Our vision is
    • Our results
    • The facilities
  • I journey
  • I learn
  • I keep abreast
    • Our news
    • FAQs
    • The legal aspects
    • Fertility library
    • Emotions and experiences
    • I care
    • Video
  • Contact us
  • Call us
  • Our news
Γλώσσες
  • ΕL
  • EN
pgt
Multinucleated Blastomeres
20/03/2022
EMBRYOLAB ACADEMY logo
Embryolab Academy: Nine years of International Progress and Innovation
10/04/2022

Artificial collapse-AC

27/03/2022
Mary Karagianni

Mary Karagianni B.Sc., M.Sc., Biologist, Clinical Embryologist

Artificial Collapse (AC) of Human Expanded Blastocysts protects the quality of embryos during the vitrification/warming procedure

Embryology is a rapidly developing science both on a clinical and an embryological level. A typical example of how the clinical management of IVF incidents has changed is the use of the Freeze All strategy. In the past, each new IVF cycle that started with oocyte retrieval ended up in embryo transfer in 90% of cases. From the moment it was established that hormonal stimulation influences the receptivity of the endometrium, and thanks to the simultaneous development of cryopreservation (vitrification) methods, this rate changed. These days, 80% of cases will not end up in embryo transfer, but in the selective freezing of all embryos, some of which will then be thawed and transferred to a next cycle of endometrial preparation. On an embryonic level, the technology of cultivated material production has progressed by leaps and bounds and, coupled with the use of new-generation incubators, it will allow us to cultivate embryos in ideal laboratory conditions, resulting in the development of more, larger (expanded) and better quality blastocysts! Therefore, we are living at a time when we have all the more in-vitro embryos which we can freeze at any time, to use when the conditions allow us to do so.

However, expanded blastocysts appear to be more sensitive and susceptible to cryo-injury during vitrification, due to the large quantity of fluid in the blastocoel, which may cause insufficient dehydration. This is where artificial collapse (AC) comes into play. This method is applied before cryopreservation, whereby the blastocyst is collapsed and as much as possible fluid is removed from the blastocoel. As a result, the contact time of the blastocyst with the cryoprotectants is sufficient to allow adequate dehydration of the blastocyst cells.

At Embryolab we conducted a prospective, randomised study, which included 94 cases of good prognosis with more than 4 expanded blastocysts.

The patients were randomised and assigned to either the study group, where artificial collapse was applied to 1 or 2 expanded blastocysts with the use of laser before vitrification, or the control group, where the corresponding embryos were frozen without artificial collapse. A total of 171 embryos were analysed and cryoinjury was classified depending on the presence of degenerated cells in the inner cell mass (ICM) or the trophectoderm (TE).

According to the study findings, cryoinjury in the AC group was significantly lower compared to the control group (p<0.05). The difference in the pregnancy rate (positive beta-HCG), but also in the clinical pregnancy rate, was not statistically significant between the two groups under study. In conclusion, artificial collapse with the use of laser does not pose a threat to the quality of blastocysts. On the contrary, it appears to reduce the likelihood of injury during freezing. What remains to be examined in larger-scale studies is whether it can also improve the pregnancy rate.

Share

Related posts

National Infertility Awareness Week poster
29/04/2022

The ability to parenthood is a fundamental human right.


Read more
EMBRYOLAB ACADEMY logo
10/04/2022

Embryolab Academy: Nine years of International Progress and Innovation


Read more
pgt
20/03/2022

Multinucleated Blastomeres


Read more

SERVICES

logo INSEMINATION

logo IVF

logo MICRO-INJECTION – ICSI

logo BLASTOCYST CULTURE

logo PREIMPLANTATION GENETIC DIAGNOSIS – PGT, PGS

logo TESTICULAR BIOPSY

logo MICRO-TESE

logo COLLECTING TESTICULAR TISSUE – FNA

logo IMSI

logo OOCYTE DONATION

logo SPERM DONORS

logo EMBRYO DONATIONS

logo EGG CRYOPRESERVATION

logo SPERM CRYOPRESERVATION

Certification – Accreditation

National Authority of Medically Assisted Reproduction

Partners

trusted clinic
IVF Babble logo
Fertility Friends
LOGO-MAIA

Contact

Embryolab Logo

ASSISTED REPRODUCTION CLINIC

St. 173-175 Ethnikis Antistaseos
Kalamaria, Thessaloniki 551 34
Τel: 2310 474747 Fax: 2310 475718
info@embryolab.eu

Follow us

Find us on the map

Search

    © 2018 Embryolab. All Rights Reserved.
    Development by Κατασκευή ιστοσελίδων, mobile εφαρμογές
    ESPA 2014-2020

    Ιατρικό Τμήμα

    Εργαστηριακό Τμήμα

    Τομέας Συμβουλευτικής

    Διοικητικό Τμήμα

    Νοσηλευτικό Τμήμα

    Έρευνα και Ανάπτυξη

    Συνεργάτες Ιατροί

    Διεθνές Τμήμα

    By browsing embryolab.eu, you accept the terms of use and the personal data protection policy. Accept
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    _ga Cookie, This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to calculate visitor, session, campaign data and keep track of site usage for the site\'s analytics report. The cookies store information anonymously and assign a randomly generated number to identify unique visitors.
    _gid Cookie, This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the wbsite is doing. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages viisted in an anonymous form.
    test_cookie, This cookie is set by doubleclick.net. The purpose of the cookie is to determine if the users\' browser supports cookies.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT
    .vc_custom_1579619756651{background-image: url(https://en.embryolab.eu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/08/embryolab_arxiki_3.jpg?id=4519) !important;}.vc_custom_1524119330832{background-image: url(https://en.embryolab.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/slider_fertility_show-min-1.jpg?id=17898) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}.vc_custom_1523605768178{background-color: #ffffff !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}.vc_custom_1521467429652{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}.vc_custom_1521467435587{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}.vc_custom_1521467442723{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}.vc_custom_1579617790525{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}.vc_custom_1521467462618{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}.vc_custom_1524043649766{margin-bottom: 10px !important;}