Metabolomic Profiling of Follicular Fluid to Predict Oocyte Competence and Blastocyst Development in Assisted Reproductive Technology

International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology | Vol. 14, No. 6, June 2026 | pp. 61–72

DOI: 10.46882/2026/IJOG/000482

Original Research Article

Title: Metabolomic Profiling of Follicular Fluid to Predict Oocyte Competence and Blastocyst Development in Assisted Reproductive Technology

Names of Authors: Anita P. Nwosu¹, Samuel T. Kudoyin²

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹ Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Nigeria
² Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract:
In Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), selecting the highest quality embryo remains a crucial factor in minimizing the time to pregnancy. This prospective study evaluated the clinical utility of untargeted metabolomic profiling of human follicular fluid (FF) to identify metabolic biomarkers indicative of high oocyte quality, successful fertilization, and high-grade blastocyst development. Individual FF micro-environment samples were collected from 150 women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). A total of 420 individual follicular fluid samples matching specific retrieved oocytes were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Metabolite variations were correlated with oocyte maturity, fertilization rates, and blastocyst morphology on Day 5. Multi-variate statistical models identified significant alterations in lipid and amino acid pathways. Follicular fluid corresponding to oocytes that successfully developed into high-grade blastocysts demonstrated significantly higher relative concentrations of L-carnitine (p < 0.001), pyruvate (p = 0.004), and specific phosphatidylcholines, alongside decreased concentrations of lactic acid (p = 0.012) and valine (p = 0.022) compared to follicles resulting in poor-quality embryos or developmental arrest. A predictive biomarker panel constructed using L-carnitine and the pyruvate-to-lactate ratio demonstrated a sensitivity of 84.6% and a specificity of 79.2% (AUC = 0.88) for forecasting high-grade blastocyst transformation. Metabolomic profiling of individual follicular fluid components identifies key non-invasive biomarkers of oocyte competence, reflecting intracellular energy production mechanisms and offering an objective diagnostic layer to refine embryo selection in IVF laboratories.

Keywords: Metabolomics; Follicular Fluid; Oocyte Competence; Blastocyst Development; In Vitro Fertilization; Mass Spectrometry.

Manuscript Timeline: Received: February 25, 2026; Revised: April 18, 2026; Accepted: May 15, 2026; Published: June 26, 2026.

Citation: Nwosu AP, Kudoyin ST. Metabolomic Profiling of Follicular Fluid to Predict Oocyte Competence and Blastocyst Development in Assisted Reproductive Technology. International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2026; 14(6): 61–72.

Subscribe to read the full article: https://internationalscholarsjournals.org/subscribe-to-read