Human Reproduction, Vol. 15, No. 6, 1221-1224,
June 2000
© 2000 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Does ICSI affect early serum ß-HCG in pregnancies achieved after IVF?
The Sara Racine IVF Unit, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel
This study was conducted to compare early serum human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) concentrations in singleton pregnancies achieved after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), with those achieved after conventional in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Early serum HCG, 14–16 days after embryo transfer, was analysed in 99 IVF pregnancies achieved after ICSI (group A), and compared to 105 conventional IVF pregnancies (group B). All women were treated at the IVF Unit, Lis Maternity Hospital. Records were studied retrospectively. The mean ± SE serum HCG concentration on day 14 after embryo transfer in group A was 190.5 ± 17.4 mIU/ml, compared to 195.7 ± 14.03 mIU/ml in group B. HCG concentration 14 days after embryo transfer in both groups A and B was higher in women with mechanical factor than in couples with male factor infertility or unexplained infertility (246 ± 31.4, 183.3 ± 16.4, 177.98 ± 14.3 mIU/ml respectively). On the 16th day after embryo transfer, the HCG concentration increased, and the difference between the groups was maintained. Only in the subgroup of unexplained infertility did we find a difference in concentrations of HCG between ICSI and conventional IVF: on the 16th day following embryo transfer in this group there was a significant difference in HCG concentrations (395.8 ± 21 and 545.6 ± 45.7 respectively; P = 0.04). HCG concentrations did not differ overall in the conventional IVF pregnancies compared with those achieved by ICSI. However, a statistical difference in early serum HCG concentrations was found in relation to the aetiology of infertility.
Key words: human chorionic gonadotrophin/intracytoplasmic sperm injection/IVF/pregnancy test
1 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: The Sara Racine IVF Unit, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, 6 Weizman Street, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel.E-mail: lessing{at}tasmc.health.gov.il
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