A Study on the Molecular Genetics of In Vitro Fertilization Outcomes

Abstract

Pregnancy is a unique biological phenomenon To occur a competent embryo must attach to a receptive endometrial lining and then invade the underlying decidualizing stroma Although our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that govern these early embryo maternal interactions has increased substantially in recent years, implantation remains the least understood key rate limiting step in assisted reproductive technology In spite of the evolution of the ART the rate of implantation success is around 15 percent While normal implantation events in human beings cannot be studied directly analysis of the factors that contribute to ART treatment failure do provide insight into the critical steps that determine reproductive success Recurrent implantation failure is defined as the absence of pregnancy although a good quality embryo has been transferred following at least three successive in vitro fertilization Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Embryo Transfer procedures Of all the factors affecting implantation success the analysis of genetic factors in IVF applications is really important for the success of the procedure and for the determination of couple specific management and hence is the focus of this thesis The aim of the present study was to investigate different genetic factors that could affect IVF outcomes in infertile couples The study population included 50 couples with prior infertility who had not achieved a pregnancy after 3 IVF cycles where at least two embryos were transferred in each attempt 50 infertile couples undergoing IVF who have achieved a viable pregnancy by their second IVF attempt and 50 couples who achieved a clinical pregnancy without any fertility therapy that resulted in 1 live born infant An evaluation the prevalence of chromosome abnormalities and Y chromosome microdeletion among the study population revealed chromosomal abnormalities in 18 point 5 percent of the study participants The Y microdeletion analysis using 6 pairs of specific primers for the specific Y loci of AZFa AZFb and AZFc