Improvement in early human embryo development using new formulation sequential stage-specific culture media

To determine whether altering selected components of sequential culture media can improve early development variables of human embryos. Prospective, randomized, sibling oocyte split trial. Private ART center. Two hundred eight undergoing treatment with in vitro fertilization or microinjection. Oocytes from each patient were randomly allocated to fertilization and cleavage media of a control and a trial culture medium formulation. Rates of fertilization, cleavage, and uncontrolled division; average embryo morphology score; blastomeres per embryo; embryo score parameter (number of blastomeres × embryo morphology grade); and embryo utilization. The trial media resulted in a higher fertilization rate, higher cleavage rate, lower rate of uncontrolled division, higher number of blastomeres per embryo, higher average embryo morphology score, a higher embryo score parameter, and higher embryo utilization rate compared to the control media. All differences were statistically significant. Improved sequential stage-specific culture media can reduce the occurrence of severe human embryo fragmentation and improve developmental variables in early IVF- and ICSI-generated embryos.