Methods for selecting competent oocytes and competent embryos with high potential for pregnancy outcome

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for selecting a competent oocyte or a competent embryo.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a method for selecting a competent oocyte or a competent embryo.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]In assisted reproductive technology (ART), pregnancy and birth rates following in vitro fertilization (IVF) attempts remain low. Indeed, 2 out of 3 IVF cycles fail to result in pregnancy (SART 2004) and more than 8 out of 10 transferred embryos fail to implant (Kovalevsky and Patrizio, 2005). In addition, more than 50% of IVF-born babies are from multiple gestations (Reddy et al., 2007). Preterm deliveries that result from multiple pregnancies caused by ART are estimated to account for approximately $890 million of U.S. health care costs annually (Bromer and Seli, 2008).[0003]Subjective morphological parameters are still a primary criterion to select healthy embryos used for in IVF and ICSI programs. However, such criteria do not truly predict the competence of an embryo. Many studies have shown that a combination of several di...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text is describing a way to identify embryos with a high potential for pregnancy. This is done by measuring the level of expression of certain genes in the cumulus cells, which are cells that surround the embryo. This method helps embryologists to avoid transferring embryos with poor potential for pregnancy, ultimately improving the success of in vitro fertilization.

Problems solved by technology

However, such criteria do not truly predict the competence of an embryo.

However, a recent study has shown that the selection of oocytes for insemination does not improve outcome of ART as compared to the transfer of all available embryos, irrespective of their quality (La Sala et al., 2008).

But, despite the fact that early cleavage has been shown to be a reliable biomarker for predicting pregnancy (Lundin et al., 2001; Van Montfoort et al., 2004; Yang et al., 2007), these gene expression profiles of cumulus cells have not been studied with respect to pregnancy outcome.

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