Spontaneous embryonic loss after in vitro fertilization with and without intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether pregnancies after IVF, with and without intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), have different early spontaneous loss rates.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of IVF/ICSI dataset.


METHODS
The Center of Reproductive Medicine, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy.


METHODS
Women undergoing IVF with or without ICSI.


METHODS
First-trimester sonography at 6-7 weeks to count the number of embryos with positive heartbeat. The number of embryos lost was calculated from a second-trimester sonogram.


METHODS
Embryonic loss rates related to the initial number of embryos, maternal age <35 or > or =35 years, and IVF procedure.


RESULTS
In vitro fertilization and ICSI had similar embryonic loss rates (odds ratio [OR] 1.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.9-1.7, and OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.9-1.8 for women aged <35 years and > or =35 years, respectively). Younger women had fewer losses after IVF (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.5-0.9). Multiples had lower loss rates compared with singleton pregnancies.


CONCLUSIONS
In vitro fertilization and ICSI have similar spontaneous embryonic loss rates. Factors other than the initial number of embryos, maternal age, and IVF technique, such as embryo quality or uterine environment, might be involved in the outcome of multiple pregnancies in assisted reproductive technology procedures.
La Sala
Giovanni B
GB
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Nucera
Giuseppe
G
Gallinelli
Andrea
A
Nicoli
Alessia
A
Villani
Maria Teresa
MT
Blickstein
Isaac
I
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008423:Maternal Age; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal