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Blastocyst transfer and gender: IVF versus ICSI

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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the difference in sex ratio in our centre after day 5 embryo transfer among neonates delivered after fresh in vitro fertilization (IVF), fresh intra cytoplasmatic sperminjection (ICSI) and frozen embryo replacement (FER) compared to expected sex ratio in normal population.

Methods

Retrospective data after IVF/ICSI/FER therapy from 1995 – 2007 and data from the literature on similar subjects.

Results

Among a total of 420 births after day 5 transfer, there were 225 male and 195 female babies. However, after ICSI alone 30 were female and 21 male. Adding all available data from the literature on gender ratio after long term culture, the ratio of male births to total births (0.545) was significantly (p = 0.004) different from the expected ratio (0.515)

Conclusions

It appears that significantly more males are born than expected after day 5 transfer in IVF. However, a subgroup analysis in our data comparing IVF, ICSI and FER revealed more females born after ICSI and FER, suggesting that further research is needed in this area.

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Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest for any of the submitting authors in reference to the submitted material.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IVF-unit, University Hospital of Northern Norway, and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway

    Martha Agnes Hentemann & Kjell Bertheussen

  2. University Hospital of Northern Norway, Tromsø, Norway

    Siri Briskemyr

  3. IVF-department, University Hospital of Northern Norway, Tromsø, N-9038, Norway

    Martha Agnes Hentemann

Authors
  1. Martha Agnes Hentemann
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  2. Siri Briskemyr
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  3. Kjell Bertheussen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Martha Agnes Hentemann.

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Capsule

Day 5 embryo transfer after in vitro culture leads to significantly more male babies than expected in normal population, with differences between IVF and ICSI.

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Hentemann, M.A., Briskemyr, S. & Bertheussen, K. Blastocyst transfer and gender: IVF versus ICSI. J Assist Reprod Genet 26, 433–436 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-009-9337-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-009-9337-3

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