Comparison of cost for conventional embryo transfer versus intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

BACKGROUND

There are obvious practical advantages of both conventional ET and ICSI. One question that has not been addressed adequately, however, is the relative cost of each procedure and if there is a cost advantage of one over the other.

AIMS/

OBJECTIVES

The objective of the present study was to obtain additional cost data from clinics and breeding farms that perform both ET and ICSI.

METHODS

A request was sent to 10 clinics that performed either just OPU or OPU/ICSI. These facilities were representative of reproductive specialists located all across the United States. Six clinics provided information on at least 10 ICSI and 10 ET mares.

RESULTS

In 3/6 clinics the cost of generating an embryo by ICSI was less than the cost of generating an embryo by uterine flushing, nearly the same in one clinic and more than double the cost of generating ICSI embryos in 2 clinics.

CONCLUSION

The cost of ICSI embryos can be similar to that for ET embryos if one considers the extra embryos produced by ICSI that are vitrified and stored for transfer at a later time and the facility is producing at least 2.5 embryos/OPU. The client should take into consideration all the factors and then choose the technique that best meets their needs.