PURPOSE: To characterize the differences between two matched groups of patients treated by ICSI: those pregnant after all embryos transferred implanted (100% implantation rate) compared with nonpregnant patients. METHODS: Twenty-one patients in whom one transferred embryo achieved a singleton pregnancy (group A) and 21 pregnant patients to whom two or three embryos were transferred and achieved 11 twin and 10 triplet pregnancies (group B) compared with matched nonpregnant patients (group C and D, respectively). RESULTS: The singleton pregnant patients were significantly older than the twin and triplet pregnancy patients. Although a similar number of human menopausal gonadotropin ampules were used in the singleton compared with the twins and triplets a significantly lower number of oocytes and embryos were achieved at lower levels of estradiol on the human chorionic gonadotropin day in the former than in the latter respectively. No difference was found between the pregnant women and their nonpregnant controls in any of the mentioned parameters. Good embryo morphology was found in 86% of the embryos in group A compared with 62% in group C (P = 0.08) and 92% in group B compared with 66% in group D (P < 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The only parameter in which pregnant patients with 100% implantation rate differ from their nonpregnant controls was embryo quality.
PURPOSE: To characterize the differences between two matched groups of patients treated by ICSI: those pregnant after all embryos transferred implanted (100% implantation rate) compared with nonpregnant patients. METHODS: Twenty-one patients in whom one transferred embryo achieved a singleton pregnancy (group A) and 21 pregnant patients to whom two or three embryos were transferred and achieved 11 twin and 10 triplet pregnancies (group B) compared with matched nonpregnant patients (group C and D, respectively). RESULTS: The singleton pregnant patients were significantly older than the twin and triplet pregnancy patients. Although a similar number of human menopausal gonadotropin ampules were used in the singleton compared with the twins and triplets a significantly lower number of oocytes and embryos were achieved at lower levels of estradiol on the human chorionic gonadotropin day in the former than in the latter respectively. No difference was found between the pregnant women and their nonpregnant controls in any of the mentioned parameters. Good embryo morphology was found in 86% of the embryos in group A compared with 62% in group C (P = 0.08) and 92% in group B compared with 66% in group D (P < 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The only parameter in which pregnant patients with 100% implantation rate differ from their nonpregnant controls was embryo quality.