Single blastocyst transfer: a prospective randomized trial

Abstract

Objective: To determine the efficacy of single blastocyst transfer.

Design: Prospective randomized trial.

Setting: Private assisted reproductive technology unit.

Patient(s): Forty-eight women undergoing IVF-embryo transfer with day 3 FSH <or=10 mIU/mL and at least 10 follicles >12 mm in diameter on day of hCG administration.

Intervention(s): Embryo culture to the blastocyst stage in sequential media G1/G2 followed by transfer of either one or two blastocysts.

Main outcome measure(s): Implantation rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, and twinning.

Result(s): The transfer of a single blastocyst resulted in an implantation and ongoing pregnancy rate of 60.9% with no twins. The transfer of two blastocysts resulted in an implantation rate of 56%, an ongoing pregnancy rate of 76% with a 47.4% incidence of twins.

Conclusion(s): Single blastocyst transfer is an effective method of eliminating multiple births while maintaining high pregnancy rates in this selected group of patients.