Single-center Prospective Cumulus Cell Test Study

Cumulus Cell Messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA) Analysis as Oocyte Quality Marker in the Fertility Lab in a Prospective Single-center Study

Performing an additional non-invasive oocyte diagnostic test based on cumulus cell gene expression could improve the outcome of the ART cycle

Inclusion Criteria:

• scheduled for intracytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI) and single or double embryo transfer on day 3
• patients down regulated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist and stimulated with Highly Purified human Menopausal Gonadotropin (HP-hMG)
• undergoing first or second IVF or ICSI cycle with transfer
• Body Mass Index (BMI) between 17 and 33.
• regular menstrual cycle (between 24 and 35 days)

Exclusion Criteria:

• smokers (> 10 cigarettes per day)
• patients requesting Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)
• patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or severe endometriosis (AFS stage 3-4)
• couples where the partner has an extremely low sperm count e.g.: extreme oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (OAT) (< 100.000/ml) or scheduled for testicular sperm extraction (TESE)
• results of eventual preceding cycles may not indicate a known genetic disease, or low ovarian response or an oocyte maturation defect