The Immediate Partial Removal of Cumulus-Oocyte Complexes: A Refined Approach for Rapid Observation of <em>In Vitro</em> Fertilization

Despite the rapid advancements in clinical and laboratory technologies for in vitro fertilization (IVF), a significant proportion (10%-15%) of patients continue to experience fertilization disorders, leading to low fertilization rates and the production of nonviable embryos. Short-term fertilization involves the early removal of granulosa cells to observe the extrusion of the second polar body, enabling the assessment of fertilization and early remedial measures to address low fertilization rates and complete fertilization failure. However, the observation of short-term fertilization in IVF is impeded by challenges such as excessively large unprocessed clusters of cumulus-oocyte complexes and adhesion between eggs, necessitating complex external procedures for granulosa cell removal, and prolonged observation duration. To tackle this issue, this study proposes a method of immediate partial removal of granulosa cells post egg retrieval. This approach streamlines subsequent stages of short-term fertilization and traditional fertilization monitoring, reduces the time needed for oocyte extrusion, minimizes the likelihood of external environmental impacts on the oocytes, and decreases the risk of missing the critical fertilization observation window. Consequently, the study yields novel clinical evidence aimed at enhancing the operational efficiency of embryonic laboratories in IVF.