In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

Nitrogen and Embryo Quality

At Carolina Conceptions we strive to stay abreast of the most cutting edge laboratory techniques in attempts to better serve you. It is our aim to produce high quality, developmentally competent embryos; thus increasing your opportunity for a healthy pregnancy. It has long been known that embryo quality is one of the major components in positive pregnancy outcomes; therefore culture conditions within the laboratory are critical. IVF in previous years has been performed under atmospheric conditions allowing for a 20% oxygen retention. Recent studies have shown that by decreasing the oxygen concentration with a balance of Nitrogen, embryo quality, cell number and subsequent pregnancy rates have been significantly higher when the embryos are cultured under lowered oxygen retention. It has been concluded that a lowered oxygen concentration was more representative of the uterine environment. Numerous studies have been shown to mimic these results. The IVF industry as a whole has not adopted these culturing conditions as standard as of yet but are seeing a positive trend. At Carolina Conceptions, we are offering nitrogen culture as an elective with probable benefits to IVF outcomes. In our patients utilizing lowered oxygen conditions, we have been extremely pleased with embryo quality and pregnancy rates have been reflective of superior embryo quality.

Studies for Review:

Bahceci M, Ciray HN, Karagenc L, Ulug U, Bener F.
Effect of oxygen concentration during the incubation of embryos of women undergoing ICSI and embryo transfer: a prospective randomized study.
Reprod Biomed Online. 2005 Oct;11(4):438-43.

Kea B, Gebhardt J, Watt J, Westphal LM, Lathi RB, Milki AA, Behr B.
Effect of reduced oxygen concentrations on the outcome of in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril. 2007 Jan;87(1):213-6. Epub 2006 Nov 1.

Petersen A, Mikkelsen AL, Lindenberg S. The impact of oxygen tension on developmental competence of post-thaw human embryos Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2005 Dec;84(12):1181-4.

Orsi NM, Leese HJ. Protection against reactive oxygen species during mouse preimplantation embryo development: role of EDTA, oxygen tension, catalase, superoxide dismutase and pyruvate.: Mol Reprod Dev. 2001 May;59(1):44-53.