Impact of oxygen concentrations during the cleavage stage on IVF embryo development and pregnancy outcomes

YANG Jinji; SHI Xueying; LI Yindan; LI Shaojie; WANG Fang; FU Hao; HU Chunxiu

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Medical Journal of the Chinese People Armed Police Forces ›› 2025, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (12) : 1045-1049.

Impact of oxygen concentrations during the cleavage stage on IVF embryo development and pregnancy outcomes

YANG Jinji, SHI Xueying, LI Yindan, LI Shaojie, WANG Fang, FU Hao, HU Chunxiu

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Abstract

Objective To investigate the impact of oxygen concentrations during the cleavage stage on IVF embryo development and pregnancy outcomes. Methods This retrospective study analyzed 158 fresh blastocyst transfer cycles performed at the Reproductive Medicine Center of the Characteristic Medical Center of Chinese People’s Armed Police Force between January 2022 and March 2024. Cycles were divided into two groups based on oxygen concentration during cleavage-stage culture: low-oxygen (5% O₂, n=103) and high-oxygen (20% O₂, n=53) groups. Embryo development parameters and clinical outcomes were compared between groups. Results No statistically significant differences were observed between groups in total fertilization rate, normal fertilization rate, cleavage rate, day-3 high-quality embryo rate, β-HCG positivity rate, clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, miscarriage rate, or live birth rate. The low-oxygen group demonstrated significantly higher day-3 usable embryo rate compared to the high-oxygen group(72.98% vs 67.90%,P＜0.05). Conversely, the low-oxygen group showed significantly lower blastocyst formation rate (71.20% vs 79.57%,P＜0.05)and usable blastocyst rate (66.03% vs 74.30%, P＜0.05). Conclusion While low oxygen concentration during cleavage stage improves day-3 usable embryo rate, it does not enhance pregnancy outcomes in IVF-ET cycles.

Key words

oxygen concentration / in vitro fertilization / embryo development / blastocyst transfe / clinical outcome

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YANG Jinji, SHI Xueying, LI Yindan, LI Shaojie, WANG Fang, FU Hao, HU Chunxiu. Impact of oxygen concentrations during the cleavage stage on IVF embryo development and pregnancy outcomes[J]. Medical Journal of the Chinese People Armed Police Forces. 2025, 36(12): 1045-1049

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