Impact of high magnification sperm selection on neonatal outcomes: a retrospective study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of the deselection of spermatozoa presenting vacuole-like structures using IMSI (intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection) with ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) by means of neonatal outcomes. METHODS: In a retrospective two-center analysis, a total of 848 successful IMSI or ICSI cycles ending with a live birth, induced abortion, or intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) were included. RESULTS: The IMSI and ICSI groups included 332 and 655 babies or fetuses, respectively. The parents were older in the IMSI group than in the ICSI group (mothers were 35.1 vs 32.9 years, and fathers were 39.1 vs 36.2 years). The multiple pregnancy rate was higher in the IMSI group. The mean pregnancy duration and mean birth weight were almost identical in both groups. There was no significant difference in major congenital malformations between the two groups. However, this rate was decreased in the IMSI group compared to that in the ICSI group (1.8 vs 3.2%), the difference being mainly found in singletons (1.4 vs 3.3%). Boys were more often affected than girls in both groups. The percentages of chromosomal abnormalities did not differ between the IMSI and ICSI groups (0.6 and 0.8%). The reported congenital malformations mainly affected the heart, urogenital, and musculoskeletal systems. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, the malformation rates observed in the IMSI and ICSI groups were not significantly different, even if slightly lower after IMSI. However, the observed difference followed the same trends observed in previous reports, indicating the possible impact of IMSI on decreasing congenital malformation occurrences. This highlights the necessity to prospectively evaluate the impact of IMSI on neonatal outcome after IVF treatment.

Prospective evaluation of the optimal time for selecting a single embryo for transfer: day 3 versus day 5.

To determine the best day for the selection and transfer of a single embryo, a prospective, randomized study was undertaken that compared the ongoing pregnancy rate (PR) after single embryo transfer (SET) on day 3 with that after single blastocyst transfer (SBT) on day 5. Our results show an overall significantly higher PR after SBT (32.8%) compared with SET (23.2%), and a PR of 40.8% after SBT versus 25.6% after excellent-quality embryos became available.

Development of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome after inadvertent stimulation with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and human menopausal gonadotropin in a pre-existing early pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) after inadvertent GnRH long protocol/hMG stimulation in a pre-existing early pregnancy. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Private infertility clinic. PATIENT(S): A 28-year-old woman who conceived spontaneously following IVF and cryo-embryo transfer (cryo-ET). INTERVENTION(S): IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), cryo-ET, analgesia, and forced diuresis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Viable pregnancy. RESULT(S): Viable pregnancy with OHSS despite inadvertent administration of GnRH-agonist, stimulation with hMG, and ET in a pre-existing pregnancy. CONCLUSION(S): Observation of follicle development following stimulation during pregnancy with low quantity and poor quality oocytes combined with abnormal endometrium.

Pregnancy outcome after blastocyst transfer as compared to early cleavage stage embryo transfer.

BACKGROUND: Retrospective cohort study to evaluate differences in outcome when embryo transfer was performed either on day 2-3 (cleavage stage, CS-group) or on day 4-5 (blastocyst stage, BS-group). METHODS: A total of 1259 consecutive cycles yielding 500 live born babies performed at a single centre in Bregenz, Austria, were included. Main outcome measures were implantation and (multiple) pregnancy rates and neonatal outcome including birth defects. RESULTS: Total Pregnancy rate was 44% vs 28% (P < 0.001) and the total 'take home baby rate' was 37% vs 22% in the BS-group and the CS-group, respectively. Rate of multiple gestations (34% vs 17%, P = 0.001) was significantly higher among the BS-group, resulting in a higher rate of preterm deliveries < 36 weeks (26% vs 17%, P = 0.045). Female factor causing infertility (40% vs 21%, P < 0.001) was significantly higher among the BS-group. For the CS-group, rate of singleton pregnancies (83% vs 66%, P = 0.001) and idiopathic cause of infertility (34% vs 22%, P = 0.012) were significantly higher. No statistically significant differences were found in sex, Caesarean section rate, Apgar score and umbilical artery pH-values, total mean birth weight, admission rate to intensive care unit, days of hospitalization and number of minor and major birth defects. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that blastocyst transfer may lead to a higher pregnancy rate with an overall better take-home baby rate (THBR) at the cost of higher rates of multiples and preterm deliveries.