Blastulation rates decline in a linear fashion from euploid to aneuploid embryos with single versus multiple chromosomal errors

Objective: To test the hypothesis that the blastulation rate is higher in euploid embryos than in aneuploid embryos as assessed by cleavage-stage biopsy with array-comprehensive genomic hybridization (aCGH). Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: University-affiliated institution. Patient(s): Forty-one patients with 48 in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles and 385 embryos that underwent cleavage-stage preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) with aCGH at the Continuum Reproductive Center between January 2010 and September 2013. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Probability of blastocyst and/or fully expanded or hatching blastocyst (FEHB) progression depending on number of chromosomal abnormalities. Result(s): Euploid embryos are twice as likely to progress to blastocyst and three times as likely to progress to FEHB than aneuploid embryos: 76% versus 37% and 56% versus 18%, respectively. For every additional chromosomal abnormality, the likelihood of progressing to the blastocyst stage decreases by 22% and the likelihood of progressing to FEHB decreases by 33%. Conclusion(s): Euploid embryos are far more likely than aneuploid embryos to progress to the blastocyst and FEHB stages. There is a linear decrease in probability of blastulation with the increasing number of chromosomal abnormalities. ((C)2014 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)