Influence of embryo sex on development to the blastocyst stage and euploidy

Fertil Steril. 2011 Mar 1;95(3):936-9. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.06.063. Epub 2010 Aug 5.

Abstract

Objective: To compare the prevalence of blastocyst development and euploidy in XX versus XY embryos.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Boston IVF, a large university-affiliated reproductive medicine practice.

Patient(s): All patients who underwent their first preimplantation genetic screening cycle between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2007.

Intervention(s): In vitro fertilization and preimplantation genetic screening.

Main outcome measure(s): Proportion of embryos that developed to the blastocyst stage by day 5 and prevalence of euploidy for chromosomes 8, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, and 22 in XX versus XY embryos.

Result(s): Seven hundred fifty-eight embryos from 138 cycles in 138 patients were analyzed. Three hundred sixty-six (48%) were XX, and 392 (52%) were XY. XX and XY embryos were equally likely to develop to the blastocyst stage by day 5 and were equally likely to be euploid for the analyzed chromosomes.

Conclusion(s): Our data suggest that extending embryo culture to day 5 does not lead to sex selection and that euploidy and aneuploidy are not sex dependent.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blastocyst / physiology*
  • Embryo Culture Techniques / methods
  • Embryo Culture Techniques / statistics & numerical data*
  • Embryonic Development / physiology*
  • Female
  • Fertilization in Vitro
  • Genetic Testing / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Ploidies*
  • Pregnancy
  • Prevalence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sex Preselection / statistics & numerical data*