Aim: This study was conducted to compare the cryo-survival and implantation rates of day 5/6 human blastocysts after using a home-made media versus a commercial freezing and thawing kit.
Materials and Methods: This is a prospective comparative study. Group 1 blastocysts were vitrified with home-made media (HM) (n = 48) according to shady grove protocol and thawed with gradual thawing technique using HM according to Kuwayama protocol. Group 2 (n = 30) blastocysts were vitrified and thawed with commercial media (CM). Blastocysts were subsequently cultured for 6-8 h, assessed for survival and expansion, then embryo transfer. The percentages of Positive hCG, clinical pregnancy, implantation, multiple pregnancy and abortion were recorded.
Results: Survival (following thawing and after 6-8 h culture), re-expansion, and implantation rate as well as the pregnancy rate were calculated for both media. Pregnancy rate for CM was 70% (n = 21/30) and 70.83% (n = 34/48; P = 0.8) for HM. Implantation rate for CM was 60% (n = 18/30) and 60.42% (n = 29/48; P = 0.9) for HM. There were no significant differences between the two groups. Both solutions provided high survival rate and of total 47 cases who recorded implantation, 45 went home with Healthy babies.
Conclusion: The two vitrification protocols, commercial kit and home-made solution, did not differ in blastocysts survival, re-expansion and implantation rates. So both methods could be used with equal success. HM it is providing an equal safety, and efficiency with lower cost in compared to CM.