Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36959550›Full record

SynthesisBMC pregnancy and childbirth2023

Brief and long co-incubation of sperm and oocytes for in vitro fertilization: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Yiyue Fan, Zeyu Wu, Fang Peng, Hongyao Peng, Xin Liang, Shaomi Zhu

Open access · goldFull text readMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
3.0field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. ESHRE recommendations on Good Practice in the IVF laboratory†.Human reproduction (Oxford, England) · 2026
    Guideline
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Yiyue FanSchool of Medical and Life Sciences/Reproductive &Women-Children Hospital, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1166 Liutai Avenue, Wenjiang District, Chengdu City, 611137, Sichuan Province, China.
Zeyu WuThe Affiliated Nanchong Central Hospital of North Sichuan Medical University, Nanchong City, Sichuan Province, China.
Fang PengSchool of Medical and Life Sciences/Reproductive &Women-Children Hospital, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1166 Liutai Avenue, Wenjiang District, Chengdu City, 611137, Sichuan Province, China.
Hongyao PengSchool of Medical and Life Sciences/Reproductive &Women-Children Hospital, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1166 Liutai Avenue, Wenjiang District, Chengdu City, 611137, Sichuan Province, China.
Xin LiangSchool of Medical and Life Sciences/Reproductive &Women-Children Hospital, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1166 Liutai Avenue, Wenjiang District, Chengdu City, 611137, Sichuan Province, China. liangxin@cdutcm.edu.cn.
Shaomi ZhuSchool of Medical and Life Sciences/Reproductive &Women-Children Hospital, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1166 Liutai Avenue, Wenjiang District, Chengdu City, 611137, Sichuan Province, China. Zhumi1982@163.com.
Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine · CNAffiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College · CNSecond Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese · CN

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82004176Project of TCM Administration of Sichuan Province 2021MS451Science and Technology Project of Sichuan Province, China 2022YFS0251Scientific Research Project of Sichuan Maternal and Child Health Association 21FX02
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere is still no consensus on the optimal time of oocyte-sperm co-incubation during in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the effects of brief (1-6 h) and long (16-24 h) gametes co-incubation time on IVF outcomes.

methodsThe study protocol was registered online through PROSPERO (CRD42022337503) and PRISMA guidelines were followed in the present study. The following databases were searched from inception to May 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs): PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, Web of Science, using search terms related to IVF, gametes, time of co-incubation and reproductive outcome measure. Studies comparing outcomes of brief co-incubation to that of long co-incubation during IVF, and reporting primary outcome (live birth rate), secondary outcomes (clinical pregnancy rate; ongoing pregnancy rate; miscarriage rate; normal fertilization rate; polyspermy rate; top-quality embryo rate; implantation rate) were searched. A total of 11 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Combined odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for the data. Statistical heterogeneity analysis between studies was assessed by Cochran Q and I

resultsCompared to long-term co-incubation, brief co-incubation had an advantage in increasing implantation rate (OR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.52-2.57), ongoing pregnancy rate (OR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.44-3.29) and top-quality embryo rate (OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.02-1.35). However, brief co-incubation of gametes had no advantages in the live-birth rate (OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 0.72-1.65), miscarriage rate (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 0.55-3.18), clinical pregnancy rate (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 0.99-1.87) and polyspermy rate (OR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.48-1.33) than long-term co-incubation. Additionally, the brief co-incubation was associated with lower normal fertilization rate (OR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.80-0.99), compared with long co-incubation.

conclusionsBrief co-incubation of gametes had the advantages in increasing implantation rate, ongoing pregnancy rate and top-quality embryo rate than long-term co-incubation. However, the live-birth rate displayed no difference between the two in vitro fertilization methods. Gametes co-incubation time should be individualized according to each patient's IVF history, infertility causes and the semen parameters.

Indexed as

Abortion, SpontaneousFemaleFertilization in VitroHumansLive BirthMaleOocytesPregnancyPregnancy RateRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicSpermatozoaBrief co-incubationIVF-ETLong co-incubationmeta-analysisReproductive outcomes

Identifiers

PMID36959550
PMCPMC10035113
OpenAlexW4360616928

What OpenQuestion holds

Textfull text, public
LicenceCC BY
reference markers read27
measurements read49
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.