Neonatal and obstetric outcome of pregnancies conceived by ICSI or IVF

Abstract

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is currently widely used despite concern regarding pregnancy complications and outcome, specifically congenital malformations. The aim of this study was to compare the obstetric and neonatal outcome of pregnancies conceived by IVF and ICSI. Long-term follow-up was achieved through questionnaires sent to women who conceived after IVF/ICSI treatment. Information was obtained regarding 219 pregnancies (322 children) conceived after ICSI and 145 pregnancies (201 children) conceived after IVF. There were no significant differences between the ICSI and regular IVF pregnancies in regard to the couple's characteristics and the obstetric complications. The mean +/- SD birth weight of the singletons conceived after ICSI was similar to that of singletons conceived after IVF: 3001 +/- 703 versus 3059 +/- 643 g respectively. In both groups there was a high incidence of multiple pregnancies, Caesarean sections, prematurity and low birth weights. The incidence of congenital malformations following IVF or ICSI pregnancies was similar, 6.3 and 7.7% respectively, but was increased compared with the general Israeli population. In summary, concern remains regarding the incidence of congenital malformations after IVF and the long-term outcome of ICSI pregnancies. However, the present results are reassuring with regard to the obstetric and neonatal outcome of pregnancies conceived by ICSI compared with those achieved by IVF.

Effects of Assisted Reproduction Technology on Placental Imprinted Gene Expression

“…The results demonstrated that birth weight was significantly lower in the ART group than in the SC group, which is in agreement with the results of other studies [21–23]. Some followup studies of ART-conceived children suggest that low birth weight is due to multiple pregnancies.…”

Human cumulus cell gene expression as a biomarker of pregnancy outcome after single embryo transfer

“…Whether the genes identified here can be powerful predictors of birth weight requires a larger study, which is currently underway. Lower average birth weight has been repeatedly reported from ART compared with natural conception (30)(31)(32), and our results may indicate that cumulus biomarkers can identify gametes more likely to result in live birth with improved developmental potential.…”

A child of “hers”: older single mothers and their children conceived through IVF with both egg and sperm donation

“…Two of the children were born prematurely and with low birth weight, and the health of one pair of twins was rated as 5 (out of 1-10). The latter results recall similar findings on neonatal outcomes of pregnancies conceived by IVF (34).…”