30th Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, Munich, 7/2014

The largest reproductive medicine event in Europe — the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology — took place in Munich in early July 2014, with more than 8,500 delegates.

Our team from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki had a strong presence with five scientific presentations.

Blastocyst development in single-step versus sequential culture media: prospective randomized study with sibling oocytes

This prospective study in 371 MII oocytes showed that culturing embryos in a single-step medium (Global) is associated with a significantly higher rate of blastocyst formation, embryo utilisation and quality, compared with sequential media (Origio).

The metabolic profile of the human embryo as revealed by screening for >100 metabolites by HILIC-MS/MS and its association with development and chromosomal abnormalities

This prospective study in 320 human embryos showed that the metabolic profile differs significantly between chromosomally normal and chromosomally abnormal embryos.

Does extending the time interval between human chorionic gonadotrophin administration and oocyte pick-up by two hours affect oocyte retrieval rate – a randomized clinical trial

This prospective randomised study in 156 patients showed that extending the interval between hCG administration and oocyte retrieval by 2 hours does not appear to affect the oocyte retrieval rate.

Corifollitropin-alfa compared to daily rFSH in poor responders undergoing ICSI: a randomized clinical trial

This prospective randomised study in 79 patients showed that corifollitropin-alfa appears to be as effective as daily recombinant FSH for ovarian stimulation in poor responders undergoing ICSI, in terms of the number of oocytes retrieved.

ThyrART: embryo quality and reproductive outcome after IVF according to maternal thyroid function and autoimmunity

This prospective study in 42 patients showed that changes in maternal TSH concentration are associated with pregnancy outcome. Changes in thyroxine and triiodothyronine were associated with parameters characterising embryo development.

We also organised the precongress course “The contribution of endocrinology and the management of early pregnancy to the success of a reproduction centre”, attended by more than 450 reproductive medicine specialists.