Prospective controlled randomized study of in vitro fertilization versus intracytoplasmic sperm injection in the treatment of tubal factor infertility with normal semen parameters.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the results of IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in tubal factor infertility with normal semen parameters.

DESIGN

A prospective randomized study.

SETTING

The Egyptian IVF-ET Center.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred sixteen patients infertile due to tubal factor were divided randomly into two groups. Group A(n = 58) was treated with IVF and group B(m = 58) was treated with ICSI.

INTERVENTION: In vitro fertilization and ICSI.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Pregnancy rate.

RESULTS

In group A, 736 oocytes were retrieved and normal (two pronuclear [2pN] fertilization occurred in 477 oocytes (64.8%). In group B, 748 oocytes were retrieved, 572 metaphase II oocytes were injected, and 2PN fertilization occurred in 400 oocytes (70% per injected oocyte and 53.5% per retrieved oocyte). Clinical pregnancy was diagnosed in 18 patients in group A (31%) and 19 patients in group B (32.8%). There was no significant difference in the pregnancy rate between the two groups. The fertilization rate per retrieved oocytes was significantly higher in group A.

CONCLUSIONS

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection does not offer a higher pregnancy rate as compared with IVF in the treatment of tubal factor infertility with normal semen.