IMPACT OF OOCYTE AGE ON EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT AND QUALITY: INSIGHTS FOR FERTILITY TREATMENTS - COGI 2023 The 31st World Congress on Controversies in Obstetrics, Gynecology & Infertility

Fernanda Souza Peruzzato ^1,2 Edson Guimarães Lo Turco ^6,7 Iasmim Lopes de Lima ^3,4 Ricardo Nascimento ² Jean Louis Maillard ² Ana Lucia Bertini Zarth ² Marcelo Costa Ferreira ² Caroline Pais Carvalho ^3,4 Marcos Nogueira Eberlin ^3,4 Fernando Prado Ferreira ^5,6 Vanessa Mesquita Prada ² Evelise Maria Nazari ¹ Yara Maria Rauh Muller ¹

¹Department of Cell Biology, Embryology and Genetics, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis
²Human Reproduction Clinic, Fecondare, Florianopolis
³School of Engineering, Mackenzie Presbyterain, Sao Paulo
⁴MackGraphe - Mackenzie Institute for Research in Graphene and Nanotechnologies, Mackenzie Presbyterian Institute, Sao Paulo
⁵Gynecology Department, Sao Paulo Federal University, Sao Paulo
⁶Medical Division, Neo Vita Clinic, Sao Paulo
⁷Surgery Department/Urology Discipline, Sao Paulo Federal University, Sao Paulo

Problem Statement: The influence of oocyte aging on embryo development is a paramount consideration in the realm of reproductive technologies. However, comprehending its implications on embryo quality and blastocyst formation timeline remains pivotal. This study aims to shed light on these aspects, offering practical insights for laboratory practices and clinical approaches. Our primary goal was to assess the effect of oocyte age on embryo development, focusing on blastocyst formation frequency and quality assessment.
Methods: Conducting a prospective cohort study, we examined a total of 85 embryos that underwent in vitro culture. These embryos were derived from three distinct age groups: women aged up to 35 years (41 embryos), 36 to 39 years (27 embryos), and over 40 years (17 embryos), encompassing a total of 24 cycles. Employing the SPSS software (V26), we scrutinized the blastocyst formation rate on the fifth day and evaluated embryo quality using the Gardner 2000 classification system. Statistical significance was determined using the Chi-square test, with a significance threshold set at p < 0.05.
Results: The outcomes highlighted significant variations in both blastocyst formation and Gardner blastocyst classification across the age groups. Embryos from women aged ≤35 exhibited a decreased proportion of day five blastocyst formation (5.3±0.48) compared to those from the 36-39 years group (5.5±0.50) and the ≥40 years group (5.7±0.46). Conversely, embryos from the 36-39 years and ≥40 years groups demonstrated lower embryo quality when compared to the ≤35 years group (40.9%±49.5, 43.8%±50.1, and 54.3%±50.1, respectively). No statistically significant differences were observed in other parameters.
Conclusion: In conclusion, this study underscores the substantial impact of women`s oocyte age on embryo quality, influencing both the tempo of embryo development and the quality of resulting blastocysts. These findings offer indispensable insights into assessing a patient`s fertility potential, aiding clinicians in making informed decisions regarding fertility treatments.