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Is intracytoplasmic sperm (ICSI) better than traditional in vitro fertilization (IVF): confirmation of higher blastocyst rates per oocyte using a split insemination design

  • Assisted Reproduction Technologies
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Abstract

Purpose

To explore the effects of traditional vs. intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) insemination method on the outcome of high-quality blastocyst development in a split sibling oocyte cohort.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed 62 ICSI/IVF split cycles. Sibling oocytes were randomly assigned to ICSI or IVF insemination. Two hundred thirty-four ICSI-only cycles and 152 IVF-only cycles were also analyzed for comparison. Blastocysts were graded by Gardner’s embryo grading and were considered a high-quality blastocyst if 3BB or better (Gardner 1999).

Results

In the ICSI/IVF split group, (1) ICSI oocytes had a higher fertilization rate per oocyte allocated (73% vs 62%, p < 0.001), (2) more high-quality day 2 embryos (69% vs 55%, p < 0.005), (3) ICSI oocytes had a lower blastulation rate per 2PN (46% vs 54%, p < 0.05), but a higher blastulation rate when calculated per oocyte allocated (40% vs 32%, p < 0.05). The ICSI-only group had a lower fertilization rate (65% vs 70%, p < 0.001) but more high-quality day 2 embryos in comparison to the IVF-only group (68% vs 64%, p < .05). The total high-quality blastulation rate was higher for the IVF-only group per 2PN (49% vs 43%, p < 0.05) and per oocyte retrieved (34% vs 28%, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

This distinctive IVF/ICSI sibling oocyte split design demonstrated a higher-quality blastulation rate in the IVF group compared to the ICSI group when calculated per 2PN, but not per oocyte allocated to each insemination procedure.

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Women & Infants Hospital, 90 plain street, Providence, RI, 02905, USA

    May-Tal Sauerbrun-Cutler, Chloe Shen, Richard Hackett & Shunping Wang

  2. Division of Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Women & Infants Hospital, 90 Plain Street, Providence, RI, 02905, USA

    Phinnara Has

  3. Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford Medical School, 1195 W Fremont Ave, Sunnyvale, CA, 94087, USA

    Ruben Alvero

  4. The Fertility Institute of New Orleans, 4770 S I-10 Service Rd W Ste 201, Metairie, LA, 94087, USA

    Warren J. Huber III

  5. Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, LSUHSC School of Medicine, New Orleans, CA, 94087, USA

    Warren J. Huber III

Authors
  1. May-Tal Sauerbrun-Cutler
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  2. Warren J. Huber III
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  3. Phinnara Has
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  4. Chloe Shen
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Correspondence to May-Tal Sauerbrun-Cutler.

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Sauerbrun-Cutler, MT., Huber, W.J., Has, P. et al. Is intracytoplasmic sperm (ICSI) better than traditional in vitro fertilization (IVF): confirmation of higher blastocyst rates per oocyte using a split insemination design. J Assist Reprod Genet 37, 1661–1667 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-020-01819-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-020-01819-1

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