Objective: To test if the extended embryo culture and embryo selection methods have a
positive effect on pregnancy outcome or not.
Materials & Methods: This study had been carried out in infertility unit at C-PLAS hospital at Sana'a, Yemen during the period from July 2007 to July 2009, it includes 305
intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles had fresh embryo transfer either on day 2, (220
patients) or on day 3, (85 patients). It retrospectively analyzes the pregnancy rates for
both groups.
Results: The mean age was similar in both groups. Pregnancy rates were slightly higher in
day 3 embryo transfer (43.52 %) versus day 2 embryo transfer (40 %) but not statistically
significant. There was no statistical significant difference in pregnancy rates based on the
number of embryo transferred in both groups, However there was significant difference
in the quality and cleavage stage of embryo, day 2 embryo transfer (grad A 68.14 %, grad
B 25.62 % and grade AB 6.23 %, 4 cell 98.19 % and 8 cell 1.8 %) versus day 3 (grad A
85.71 %, grad B 11.84 % and grade AB 2.43 %, 4 cell 49.13 % and 8 cell 50.87 %).
Conclusion: Extending embryo culture period from day 2 to day 3 have positive effect on
cleavage stage and quality of embryo, but had no adverse effect on pregnancy rate .Embryo
transfer could be done on day 2 or day 3 according to quality and cleavage stage of embryo.