Efficiency analysis of IVF programs using "Ural'skaya odnoshagovaya" Ural-m-1step culture media
Komarova E.M., Kazakova I.A., Lisovskaya T.V., Ivanov A.V., Mayasina E.N., Kozhevnikova A.I., Ivanov I.V., Fedoseeva O.B., Vartanyan E.V., Gzgzyan A.M., Kogan I.Yu.
The procedures of the embryological stage of in vitro fertilization (IVF) program mainly determine the effectiveness of this technology for infertility treatment. Currently, in Russia it is possible to buy culture media for IVF programs from various manufacturers.
Objective: To assess the effectiveness of IVF programs with the use of "Ural'skaya odnoshagovaya" Ural-m-1step culture medium (TU 21.20.23–001–47571069–2022), LLC "Incammedic" (Russia).
Materials and methods: Two study groups were formed: the main group, which included 240 sibling IVF and IVF/ICSI protocols, with fertilization and embryo cultivation carried out on the Ural-m-1step medium (Russia), and comparison group, which consisted of 240 sibling IVF and IVF/ICSI protocols, with fertilization and embryo cultivation performed on the Vitrolife line of media (Sweden). To stimulate ovulation in patients of both groups we used protocols with GnRH antagonists; to support the luteal phase, a micronized progesterone preparation (Iprozhin, Italfarmaco, Italy/France) was introduced at a dose of 600 mg per day in 2 doses vaginally.
In the main group, 119 embryo transfers into the uterine cavity were performed on the 5th–6th day of cultivation, whereas the comparison group included 103 embryo transfers.
Results: According to the key quality indicators adopted by the Vienna and the Maribor consensuses, the effectiveness of IVF programs using the compared media did not statistically differ, p>0.05. The percentage of fertilization, the proportion of blastocysts, the number of blastocysts of excellent quality obtained on the 5th–6th day of cultivation in IVF and IVF/ICSI cycles in the main and comparison groups also did not differ. The pregnancy/implantation rate corresponded to the target ones, according to the Vienna and the Maribor consensuses, and did not have significant differences in the main and comparison groups, both in “fresh” cycles: 57/119 (54.8%) and 47/103 (48.8%), respectively, p=0.338, and in cryoprotocols: 62/119 (58.8%) and 56/103 (59.6%), respectively, p=0.660.
Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that the outcomes of IVF programs performed with in combination with the Ural-m-1step medium (TU 21.20.23–001–47571069–2022), LLC "Incammedik" (Russia), are comparable to those using the Vitrolife media (Sweden), which proves the interchangeability of these medical products in clinical practice.
Authors’ contributions: Komarova E.M. – material collection and analysis on the clinical basis of D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, St. Petersburg; Kazakova I.A., Mayasina E.N. – material collection and analysis on the clinical basis of Clinical Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Yekaterinburg; Lisovskaya T.V. – writing the text; Ivanov A.V. – material collection and analysis on the clinical basis of City Mariinsky Hospital, St. Petersburg; Kozhevnikova A.I. – statistical data processing; Ivanov I.V., Levin V.A. – research concept and design; Fedoseeva O.B. – consistency of all parts of the manuscript; Gzgzyan A.M., Vartanyan E.V. – manuscript editing; Kogan I.Yu. – approval of the final version.
Conflicts of interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest in connection with the publication of this article.
Funding: The study was performed without external funding.
Ethical Approval: The study was approved by the local ethics committee of the Clinical Institute of Reproductive Medicine (Yekaterinburg) on February 13, 2024 (Protocol #2).
Patient Consent for Publication: All patients signed an informed consent to participate in the study in the form of consent to use a particular culture medium registered in the Russian Federation at the embryological stage of ART programs, informed consent for treatment using assisted reproductive technologies, informed consent for the processing with personal data.
Authors' Data Sharing Statement: The data supporting the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author after approval from the principal investigator.
For citation: Komarova E.M., Kazakova I.A., Lisovskaya T.V., Ivanov A.V., Mayasina E.N., Kozhevnikova A.I., Ivanov I.V., Fedoseeva O.B., Vartanyan E.V., Gzgzyan A.M., Kogan I.Yu. Efficiency analysis of
IVF programs using "Ural'skaya odnoshagovaya" Ural-m-1step culture media.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2025; (8): 172-178 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2025.194
Keywords
in vitro fertilization
culture media
blastocyst rate
implantation rate
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Received 17.07.2025
Accepted 11.08.2025
About the Authors
Evgenia M. Komarova, PhD (Bio), Junior Researcher, embryologist, ART Department, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology,199034, Russia, St. Petersburg, Mendeleevskaya Line, 3, evgmkomarova@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5161-369X
Irina A. Kazakova, PhD (Bio), Head of the Clinical Embryology Laboratory, Clinical Institute of Reproductive Medicine, 620000, Russia, Yekaterinburg, B. Yeltsin str., 3, brykina_irina@mail.ru
Tatyana V. Lisovskaya, Dr. Med. Sci., Associate Professor, Deputy Director General for Scientific and Methodological Work, Clinical Institute of Reproductive Medicine, 620000, Russia, Yekaterinburg, B. Yeltsin str., 3, tv.lis@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9747-9323
Andrey V. Ivanov, Head of Assisted Reproductive Technologies Department, City Mariinsky Hospital, 191014, Russia, St. Petersburg, Liteiny Ave., 56, dr.ivanovav@gmail.com
Elena N. Mayasina, PhD, Deputy Director General for Medical Unit, Clinical Institute of Reproductive Medicine, 620000, Russia, Yekaterinburg, B. Yeltsin str., 3,
elena.mayasina@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3387-819X
Alexandra I. Kozhevnikova, embryologist assistant, Clinical Institute of Reproductive Medicine, 620000, Russia, Yekaterinburg, B. Yeltsin str., 3, kkozhhh@yandex.ru
Igor V. Ivanov, Dr. Med. Sci., General Director, All-Russian Research and Testing Institute of Medical Equipment of Roszdravnadzor, 115582, Russia, Moscow,
Kashirskoye Shosse, 24-16, ministr38@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0971-053X
Oksana B. Fedoseeva, Lecturer at the Center for Scientific Research and Advanced Development, All-Russian Research and Testing Institute of Medical Equipment of Roszdravnadzor, 115582, Russia, Moscow, Kashirskoye Shosse, 24-16, fob18-fob18@rambler.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7882-8885
Emma V. Vartanyan, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117513, Russia, Moscow, Ostrovityanov str., 1; President, SRO «Association of ART Clinics»; Director, ART Clinic «Test Tube Children», Moscow,
emma-vartanyan@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0337-086X
Vitaly A. Levin, endocrinologist, specialist in the organization of health and public health, Ornament Health AG, Lucerne, Switzerland, vitalylevin0205@gmail.com,
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8758-0842
Alexander M. Gzgzyan, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Head of the ART Department, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, 199034, Russia, St. Petersburg, Mendeleevskaya Line, 3, agzgzyan@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3917-9493
Igor Yu. Kogan, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Corresponding Member of RAS, Director, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology,
199034, Russia, St. Petersburg, Mendeleevskaya Line, 3, ikogan@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7351-6900
Corresponding author: Tatyana V. Lisovskaya, tv.lis@mail.ru
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