title: Comparisons of pregnancy loss patterns after intracytoplasmic sperm injection and other assisted reproductive technologies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare outcome of pregnancies after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with those of other assisted reproductive technologies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnancy outcomes after ICSI were followed prospectively and compared with pregnancy outcomes after IVF with fresh and frozen ETs and donor oocyte cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  A private tertiary referral center for genetics and infertility in Fairfax, Virginia.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Genetics & IVF Institute, Fairfax, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Coulam
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Opsahl
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Sherins
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Thorsell
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dorfmann
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Krysa
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fugger
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Schulman
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous; D000328:Adult; D015925:Cryopreservation; D003593:Cytoplasm; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008845:Microinjections; D018587:Oocyte Donation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome