According to a recent study published in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, micro-vibration of human embryos may prove beneficial for poor responders. The procedure was assessed with mouse embryos and human embryos.
Researchers investigated embryonic development in 159 control cycles and 166 poor responder cycles. The micro-vibration device was set at 42 Hz, 5 s/60 min. Mouse embryos were also tested with 178 control cycles and 181 micro-vibration cycles.
Improvements were noted with mouse embryos with blastocyst cell numbers significantly higher in the active group. In humans the results were not as forthcoming, at first. On day 3 there appeared to be no difference between results in the control and micro-vibration groups. By day 5, changes were noticed in the embryonic development. Implantation and pregnancy rates were improved in the human micro-vibration group when compared to the control group.
Source: Hur YS, Park JH, Ryu EK, Park SJ, Lee JH, Lee SH, Yoon J, Yoon SH, Hur CY, Lee WD, Lim JH. Effect of micro-vibration culture system on embryo development. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2013 May 9.