Highlights from ESHRE’s 40th Annual Meeting (2024)

This post provides a short summary of select studies presented during the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) 2024 meeting in Amsterdam. These studies may not have been published or peer reviewed yet.

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Press releases from ESHRE 2024

Novel treatment improves embryo implantation and live birth rates in infertile women undergoing IVF and ICSI. New research has demonstrated the effectiveness of a first-in-class oral, non-hormonal drug in increasing embryo implantation, pregnancy and live birth rates among infertile women who are undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The findings represent a significant step toward the first therapeutic tool to increase embryo implantation and live birth rate success. Read the full release on ESHRE. In this study, they found that an oral drug, OXO-001, showed an increase of nearly 7% in live birth rates.

Familial endocrine diseases linked to increased risk of pregnancy loss. Women who have close family members with endocrine diseases, including type 2 diabetes, thyroid diseases and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), are at higher risk of pregnancy loss, a new study has found. Read the full release on ESHRE.

IVF and IUI treatment cycles increase across Europe, along with stable pregnancy rates. Women in Europe are receiving more cycles of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI), according to data presented today at the ESHRE 40^th Annual Meeting in Amsterdam. Read the full release on ESHRE.

New 3D imaging method offers promise of better IVF outcomes. Innovative research has introduced a novel 3D imaging model designed to identify features of blastocysts – the early stage of development for an implanted embryo – associated with successful pregnancies. This new approach could transform current blastocyst selection methods, and open avenues for increased pregnancy rates. Read the full release on ESHRE.

Socioeconomic status significantly affects fertility treatment outcomes, new study shows. Novel research reveals significant social disparities in achieving live births following assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. Women with a research education (PhD) were over three times more likely to achieve a live birth compared to those with a primary school education, while women in the highest income group were twice as likely than those in the lowest income group. Read the full release on ESHRE.

Gestational carriers face higher health risks during pregnancy compared to IVF and natural conceptions, new study shows. Gestational carriers, also known as surrogates, experience an elevated risk of severe maternal morbidity and adverse pregnancy outcomes compared to women who conceive naturally or through in vitro fertilisation (IVF), according to new research. Read the full release on ESHRE.

Air pollution linked to a decrease in IVF birth rate success, new study shows. A pioneering study has revealed that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) prior to the retrieval of oocytes (eggs) during in vitro fertilisation (IVF) can reduce the odds of achieving a live birth by almost 40%. Read the full release on ESHRE.

Selected abstracts for oral presentation from ESHRE 2024

Here are a collection of abstracts titles for oral presentations from the meeting, along with links to the full abstract so you can read more about it. There were over 300 presentations, and these are the ones that seem particularly interesting (in my opinion!). You can access the full list here.

The decline in semen quality parameters enhances mosaicism in trophectoderm biopsy of human blastocysts

Piezo-ICSI reduces oocyte degeneration, improves ICSI success rates and has shown less dependence on the experience level of embryologists: cumulative data with 65,033 MII oocytes

Chaotic blastocysts in preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies: prevalence, characterization and re-biopsy results — Nearly 25% of chaotic embryos retest as euploid after PGT-A.

Limited utility of mosaicism reporting in PGT-A: independent confirmation from a European multisite, double-blinded analysis including 4293 embryo transfers following the first US experience

Chromosomal, gestational, and neonatal outcomes of mosaic embryos: analysis of 3074 cases from the international registry of mosaic embryo — Prenatal testing revealed that 7 out of 552 pregnancies (0.9%) have the same mosaic result as the embryo after PGT-A.

Does presence of endometriosis adversely affect oocyte morphology? Evaluation of a large number of oocytes obtained from endometriosis patients, 27204 oocytes

Live birth of Day 7 blastocyst transfers. Another chance to succeed

GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment in early pregnancy and risk of pregnancy complications – A nationwide cohort study — There was an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients taking GLP-1 agonists, but this was due to the diabetes or obesity indication and not the drug itself.

Impact of maternal aging on the DNA repair landscape in mouse oocytes

Euploidy’s hidden potential: emerging insights from abnormal fertilized embryos

Specific KIR gene profiles and recurrent implantation failure — Patients with the NK cell KIR AA receptor had a higher chance of recurrent implantation failure (RIF) compared to those with KIR Bx.

Tacrolimus treatment significantly improved IVF outcomes with euploid embryo transfer in women with repeated implantation failures (RIF) and elevated T helper (Th)1/Th2 cell ratios — Treatment with the immunosuppressant Tacrolimus improved IVF outcomes in patients with RIF and elevated Th1/Th2 ratios.

Investigating the effect of advanced sperm preparation techniques on embryo developmental potential and clinical outcomes: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Three Injections Protocol for IVF; a proof of concept study into elaborating the outmost patient friendly protocol in IVF — Ovarian stimulation was accomplished using only three injections: a long-lasting FSH on cycle day 3, a long-lasting GnRH-antagonist on cycle day 8 and a trigger once follicles reached 18 mm, resulting in mature eggs, blastocysts and live births.

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About Embryoman

Embryoman (Sean Lauber) is a former embryologist and the founder of Remembryo, an IVF research and fertility education website. After working in an IVF lab in the US, he returned to Canada and now focuses on making fertility research more accessible. He holds a Master’s in Immunology and launched Remembryo in 2018 to help patients and professionals make sense of IVF research. Sean shares weekly study updates on Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit regularly. He also answers questions on Reddit or in his private Facebook group.

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