Impact of embryo co-culture with cumulus cells on pregnancy & implantation rate in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization using donor oocyte.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Cumulus cell co-culture of embryo had been found to be beneficial for achieving better pregnancy and implantation rate (IR). The present study was aimed to evaluate efficiency of cumulus co-culture technique over simple culture of embryo in terms of pregnancy rate (PR) and IR in patients undergoing treatment for infertility using donor oocytes fertilized by intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental study between control and study groups. The primary endpoint was achievement of pregnancy. Control group included 508 women who underwent embryo development without cumulus cell co-culture and study group included 394 women who underwent embryo development with cumulus cell co-culture using donor's cumulus cells.

RESULTS: The present study demonstrated a significant increase in the IR (37.2 vs 24.2%, P<0.001) and in PR (45.7 vs 37.8%, P<0.05) in study group than in control group. The PR and IR were found to be higher in study group, among all groups of women, grouped on the basis of different indications for use of donor oocytes.

INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Cumulus cell co-culture technique was found to be more effective than simple culture technique for embryo development in women undergoing treatment for infertility using donor oocytes fertilized by intracytoplasmic sperm injection.