ABSTRACT
Human embryo culture systems have improved significantly over the past two decades. The overall increase in pregnancy rates within the USA as reported by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (Figure 22.1) is a direct reflection of our improved ability to culture (and select) viable human embryos. Furthermore, as well as increasing the outcome of an IVF cycle following embryo transfer at the pronuclear and cleavage stages, with the advent of more physiologic culture media, it is now also possible to culture the human embryo to the blastocyst stage as a matter of routine. This in turn has been responsible for further increases in implantation rates (and decreases in pregnancy losses). The aim of this chapter is therefore to review the current systems available to culture the human embryo and also to guide the reader to factors outside of a media bottle that can affect the outcome of an IVF cycle.
