[How to improve ART results? Is France behind other countries? Strategy for single embryo transfer: The value of embryo selection and embryo freezing].
Multiple embryo transfer is associated with a high frequency of twin pregnancies with costly complications involving both mother and child. As a result high priority is currently being given to the development of single embryo transfer (SET) programs. France seems to be lagging behind Northern European countries in the development of SET and widespread use of SET will depend on convincing physicians that this policy will not have a negative impact on success rate, as has been the case for many protocols described in the literature as well as in our own experience. Our SET program includes patients less than 36 years of age undergoing their first FIV-ICSI. If two embryos showing satisfactory morphology are obtained, one is selected transferred and the other is systematically frozen. Selection for transfer is based on two criteria, i.e. observation of even early cleavage 26 hours after FIV-ICSI and evaluation of embryo morphology score on day 2. Embryo morphology score is based on the presence of four blastomeres and absence of blastomere irregularities and anucleated fragmentation. Last, a prerequisite for SET is an effective freezing program. A pregnancy rate of 13% per thawing was sufficient enough to obtain a cumulative pregnancy rate after SET (N = 205) and subsequent frozen embryo transfer (FET) similar to the cumulative pregnancy rate obtained after double embryo transfer (N = 394) and subsequent FET (46.3 vs 46.7%, NS). Twin delivery rate were respectively 2,6% after SET and 26,6% after double embryo transfer (P < 0.01).
Terriou
P
P
Institut de médecine de la reproduction (IMR), 6, rue Rocca, 13008 Marseille, France. pterriou@aol.com
Giorgetti
C
C
Hans
E
E
Salzmann
J
J
Charles
O
O
Cignetti
L
L
Avon
C
C
Roulier
R
R
D000328:Adult; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014427:Twins