Instituto Bernabeu studies a possible connection between embryo quality and congenital abnormalities

The aim of the study, which has been published in the Iberoamerican Fertility Journal, is based on understanding the possible relationship between the quality of embryos transferred during in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles with the presence of abnormalities in the foetus.

A retrospective analysis covering cases of congenital abnormalities was carried out and compared with a control group of births after assisted reproduction techniques. Depending on the types of embryos obtained, the cases were divided into high, medium and low quality transfers.

The results confirmed the hypothesis and indicated a link between a greater number of congenital defects and implantation of poor quality embryos.

The Instituto Bernabeu team responsible for the research work included Francisco Sellers, Belén Moliner, Jorge Ten, Jaime Guerrero, Ana Palacios and the Medical Director of Instituto Bernabeu, Rafael Bernabeu.