How many embryos should be transferred in in vitro fertilization? A prospective randomized study

Abstract

Objective: To maintain the rate of pregnancy, while suppressing high rank multiple pregnancies by limiting the number of fresh embryos transferred after IVF, in a population selected for potential success.

Design: A prospective, randomized study.

Setting: Département de Gynécologie Obstétrique, Centre Hospitalo Universitaire, Paris VI, France.

Patients: There were two groups of 28 couples. Women were < or = 35 years of age, with > or = 70% cleavage rate and at least four morphologically regular embryos.

Intervention: On the day of ET, either four fresh embryos were transferred (group 1) or two fresh embryos were transferred and two were frozen for later transfer (group 2).

Main outcome: Pregnancy rate and multiple pregnancy.

Results: The pregnancy rate was the same in the two groups with one-third of the high rank pregnancies in group 1 and no pregnancies in group 2.

Conclusion: Only two fresh embryos need to be transferred in this selected population.