Purpose: Our purpose was to examine the timing of implantation and early em
bryo development following uterine transfer of oocytes/embryos previously s
ubjected to zona pellucida micromanipulation.
Methods: A total of 68 singleton pregnancies resulting from IVF and embryo
transfer with/without micromanipulation. Patients were divided into four gr
oups according to the type of micromanipulation technique: assisted hatchin
g, embryo biopsy, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and no micromanipulatio
n (control group). Serial serum beta-hCG levels were measured between 10 an
d 25 days after fertilization and log-transformed. Linear regression analys
es were performed and extrapolated to hCG = 10 mIU/ml (hCG(10)) to estimate
detectable implantation. The slopes of the regression lines were used to e
stimate the rising speed of hCG, an indirect sign of embryo development.
Results: There were no significant differences among groups with respect to
hCG(10), the slopes or intercepts of the regression lines.
Conclusions: Various oocyte/embryo microsurgical procedures used in ART inv
olving zona pellucida manipulation do not appear to affect the timing of im
plantation or early embryo development.