OBJECTIVE: To present the first genetically proven identity of quintuplets in an IVF treatment cycle after transferring only two embryos. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: IVF unit and obstetrics department of university-affiliated general hospital. PATIENT(S): Twenty-five-year-old patient undergoing IVF treatment for unexplained infertility. INTERVENTION(S): In vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection performed on 50% of oocytes, resulting in successful production of nine early-cleavage embryos. Transfer of two embryos on day 3 and freezing of the remaining embryos. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Development of five separate embryonic sacs. Fetal reduction of three embryos at 12 weeks of gestation. RESULT(S): Successful completion of the twin pregnancy and full genetic analysis of the three embryos and the twins that were born at term. CONCLUSION(S): Despite transferring only two embryos, superfecundation occurred, resulting in five embryos. Genetic analysis can be used to determine paternity and identity of all the embryos.
OBJECTIVE: To present the first genetically proven identity of quintuplets in an IVF treatment cycle after transferring only two embryos. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING:IVF unit and obstetrics department of university-affiliated general hospital. PATIENT(S): Twenty-five-year-old patient undergoing IVF treatment for unexplained infertility. INTERVENTION(S): In vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection performed on 50% of oocytes, resulting in successful production of nine early-cleavage embryos. Transfer of two embryos on day 3 and freezing of the remaining embryos. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Development of five separate embryonic sacs. Fetal reduction of three embryos at 12 weeks of gestation. RESULT(S): Successful completion of the twin pregnancy and full genetic analysis of the three embryos and the twins that were born at term. CONCLUSION(S): Despite transferring only two embryos, superfecundation occurred, resulting in five embryos. Genetic analysis can be used to determine paternity and identity of all the embryos.