Number of good quality embryos on day 3 is predictive for both pregnancy and implantation rates in in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the predictive value for implantation and pregnancy rates of the number of embryos that reach the eight-cell stage with less than 20% fragmentation (good quality embryos) on day 3.


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
Private IVF center.


METHODS
One hundred eighty-nine women undergoing IVF, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection with at least four zygotes, who have had three embryos transferred on day 3.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Pregnancy rate and implantation rate.


RESULTS
All patients (n = 189) had 3 embryos transferred. The patients were divided in five groups according to the number of good quality embryos on day 3 (0, 1, 2, 3, >3; respectively). For the five groups, the pregnancy rates were 2.9%, 33.3%, 45.5%, 39.4%, and 64.3%; the implantation rates were 2.0%, 17.0%, 20.5%, 19.3%, and 35.7%. No statistically significant differences in pregnancy rate or implantation rate were found for groups 1, 2, and 3 (when 1, 2, or 3 good quality embryos were present). The data were also analyzed after pooling these three groups. A statistically significant difference in pregnancy rate and implantation rate was found for group 0 (no good quality embryos), groups 1, 2, and 3 (1, 2, or 3 good quality embryos), and group >3 (>3 good quality embryos).


CONCLUSIONS
The number of good quality embryos available on day 3 is a strong predictive value for both pregnancy rate and implantation rate. When good quality embryos are present on day 3, only two embryos should be transferred to minimize multiple pregnancies.
Volpes
Aldo
A
ANDROS Day Surgery, Reproductive Medicine Unit, Palermo, Italy. volpes@centroandros.it
Sammartano
Francesca
F
Coffaro
Francesco
F
Mistretta
Vito
V
Scaglione
Piero
P
Allegra
Adolfo
A
D000328:Adult; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D013997:Time Factors