Comparisons of pregnancy loss patterns after intracytoplasmic sperm injection and other assisted reproductive technologies.

OBJECTIVE

To compare outcome of pregnancies after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with those of other assisted reproductive technologies.

DESIGN

Pregnancy outcomes after ICSI were followed prospectively and compared with pregnancy outcomes after IVF with fresh and frozen ETs and donor oocyte cycles.

SETTING

A private tertiary referral center for genetics and infertility in Fairfax, Virginia.

PATIENTS: One hundred thirty-six couples achieving pregnancy after undergoing ICSI, 71 after IVF, 35 donor oocyte recipients, and 19 after transfer of frozen-thawed embryos.

INTERVENTIONS: In vitro fertilization and/or ET for all couples. Dilatation and curettage to obtain products of conception for chromosome analysis in 28 women experiencing spontaneous abortion.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pregnancy outcomes were classified as preclinical loss, clinical loss, and ongoing pregnancy.

RESULTS

The mean frequency of preclinical pregnancy loss was 26% after ICSI, 28% after IVF, 3% after ET using donor oocytes, and 11% after frozen ET. The rate of clinical loss after ICSI (21%) was compared with IVF (18%), donor oocyte cycles (11%), and frozen ETs (21%).

CONCLUSIONS

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection is not associated with an increase in pregnancy losses, clinical or preclinical, compared with conventional IVF.