Live birth after polar body array comparative genomic hybridization prediction of embryo ploidy—the future of IVF?

Objective

To ascertain meiotic aneuploidy of the human egg using array comparative genomic hybridization to evaluate the 23–paired chromosome copy number of first polar body as an objective prognosticator of embryo viability for embryo transfer in the same cycle.

Design

Case report.

Setting

Independent-sector IVF program.

Patient(s)

A 41-year-old woman with a history of 13 failed cycles of IVF.

Intervention(s)

Polar body biopsy of metaphase II eggs.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Birth.

Result(s)

Two of the nine eggs were euploid, and the resulting embryos, although morphologically inferior to sibling embryos, were selected for transfer to the uterus, resulting in the birth of a normal healthy baby.

Conclusion(s)

Selection of euploid eggs, as an objective parameter of subsequent embryo viability and with the opportunity to transfer embryos in the same cycle could maximise the opportunity for live birth after IVF even in cases with poor prognosis.

Key Words: IVF, polar body biopsy, PGS, PGD, array CGH, egg chromosomes, birth