Morphology and clinical outcomes of embryos after in vitro fertilization are superior to those after intracytoplasmic sperm injection

Abstract

Objective: To compare embryos obtained after IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) regarding morphology and the likelihood of achieving clinical pregnancy.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: An IVF unit controlling 1,310 cycles in 1996.

Patient(s): Women having a total of 477 IVF and 475 ICSI consecutive cycles.

Intervention(s): Ovarian stimulation, IVF-ET, or ICSI-ET for all couples.

Main outcome measure(s): Number of grade-A embryos transferred, preclinical pregnancy losses, and clinical pregnancy rates in IVF and ICSI cycles.

Result(s): In comparison with the ICSI group, the IVF group showed significantly more grade-A embryos available for transfer (mean, 2 +/- 1.6 versus 1.8 +/- 1.5), significantly fewer preclinical pregnancy losses (1.6% versus 4%), and significantly higher clinical pregnancy rates (25% versus 19.1%).

Conclusion(s): Embryos obtained after IVF are superior to those obtained after ICSI in relation to embryo morphology and the likelihood of achieving clinical pregnancy.