First births with a simplified culture system for clinical IVF and embryo transfer

This study reports the outcome results from a pilot clinical trial using a simplified laboratory method for human IVF. This system reproducibly generates de novo the atmospheric and culture conditions that support normal fertilization and preimplantation embryogenesis to the hatched blastocyst stage without the need for specialized medical-grade gases or equipment. Development from insemination to the hatched blastocyst stage occurs undisturbed in a completely closed system that enables timed performance assessments for embryo selection in situ that, in this study, involved single-embryo transfers on day 3. With the simplified culture system, 8/23 embryos implanted, one miscarried at 8 weeks of gestation and seven healthy babies have been born. The methodology and results are discussed with regard to how this simplified system can be adopted worldwide to meet the growing need for accessible and affordable IVF. (C) 2013, Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.