Optimal numbers of mature oocytes to produce at least one or multiple top-quality day-3 embryos in normal responders

Abstract

Objective We attempted to identify the optimal cutoff numbers of mature oocytes that would produce at least one or multiple top-quality (grade A) day-3 embryos in normal responders undergoing stimulated in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. Methods We selected 210 fresh IVF cycles performed in 170 infertile women at a single center from January 2014 to November 2019. Four to 14 (total) oocytes were obtained in all cycles after conventional ovarian stimulation. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to find the moderate and extreme cutoff numbers of mature oocytes that would produce >= 1, >= 2, >= 3, >= 4, and >= 5 top-quality embryos. Results The cutoff number of mature oocytes was significantly correlated with the number of top-quality embryos (r= 0.467, p= 0.000). The moderate cutoff number of mature oocytes was >= 3, >= 5, >= 5, >= 6, and z 6 for obtaining >= 1, >= 2, >= 3, >= 4, and >= 5 top-quality embryos, respectively.The extreme cutoff number of mature oocytes was >= 9, >= 9, >= 10, >= 10, and >= 11 for obtaining >= 1, >= 2, >= 3, >= 4, and >= 5 top-quality embryos, respectively. Conclusion We present the optimal cutoff numbers of mature oocytes that would yield >= 1, >= 2, >= >= 3, >= 4, and >= 5 top-quality embryos with 95% specificity. Our findings could help infertility clinicians to set target mature oocyte numbers in women undergoing stimulated IVF cycles.