Human Reproduction, Vol. 16, No. 9, 1900-1903,
September 2001
© 2001 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
One versus two embryo transfer after IVF and ICSI: a randomized study
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Central Hospital, Oulu, 2 The Family Federation of Finland, Oulu, 3 The Family Federation of Finland, Helsinki and 4 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
BACKGROUND: The main reason for adverse treatment outcome in assisted reproduction is the high rate of multiple pregnancies. The only strategy to avoid dizygotic twins is to transfer one embryo at a time. METHODS: A total of 144 women, who had had at least four good quality embryos available after IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and who had no more than one previous failed treatment cycle, were randomized to have either one or two embryos transferred. The treatment outcomes including those after frozen embryo transfer were compared between these groups. RESULTS: The clinical pregnancy rate per transfer was 32.4% in the one embryo transfer group and 47.1% in the two embryo transfer group, the difference being not significant. Eleven twin deliveries (n = 39) occurred in the two embryo transfer group and there was one pair of monozygotic twins in the one embryo transfer group. The cumulative pregnancy rate per patient after transfer of fresh and frozen embryos was 47.3% in the one embryo transfer group and 58.6% in the two embryo transfer group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that among women who have good quality embryos in their first IVF/ICSI, good treatment results can be achieved. They support the idea of changing embryo transfer policy towards one embryo transfer without any remarkable decrease in the success rate, while dizygotic twins can be avoided.
Key words: assisted reproductive technology/IVF/ICSI/multiple pregnancy
5 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oulu, Kajaanintie 52, 90220 Oulu, Finland. E-mail: hmartika{at}cc.oulu.fi
* The Finnish ET Study Group: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oulu, Oulu: Laure Morin-Papunen, Riitta Koivunen, Ilkka Järvelä, Jouni Lakkakorpi; The Family Federation of Finland, Oulu: Sinikka Nuojua-Huttunen, Kaisa Juntunen; The Family Federation of Finland, Helsinki: Tarja Bützow, Tuija Foudila, Tiina Hakala-Ala-Pietilä, Seija Kaukoranta, Jarna Moilanen, Sirpa Mäkinen, Rita Siegberg, Viveca Söderström-Anttila, Maija Tulppala, Timo Tuuri; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki: Mervi Halttunen, Päivi Härkki-Siren.
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