Abstract
Purpose
The significance of finding a fragmented first polar body in an oocyte prepared for ICSI is controversial with most recent publications suggesting that it is not prognostic for oocyte fertilization or embryo development. Our purpose was to look at this question in the context of oocytes not stimulated for conventional IVF.
Methods
Oocytes obtained for IVM and obtained from follicles at most 12 mm in diameter were evaluated for their polar body morphology soon after they entered metaphase II when they were denuded in preparation for ICSI. Records were evaluated retrospectively for the fertilization rate and the embryo growth rate (cell number) on each day of development for embryos with normal appearing polar bodies or fragmented polar bodies, but no other cytoplasmic dysmorphisms.
Results
Oocytes with fragmented polar bodies were significantly less likely to fertilize than oocytes with normal appearing polar bodies (p < 0.0001). Embryos which developed from oocytes with fragmented polar bodies had significantly impaired growth compared to embryos that developed from oocytes with normal appearing polar bodies (p = 0.0328).
Conclusions
Fragmented polar bodies likely reflect cytoplasmic incompetence.
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In clinical IVM, oocytes with fragmented polar bodies are less likely to fertilize and are less likely to develop into an embryo with a high potential to implant than embryos develo** from oocytes with normal appearing polar bodies.
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Rose, B.I., Laky, D. Polar body fragmentation in IVM oocytes is associated with impaired fertilization and embryo development. J Assist Reprod Genet 30, 679–682 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-9982-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-9982-4