Should ICSI be implemented on patients with poor-quality embryos in the previous IVF cycle?

Abstract

Purpose This study was to evaluate whether ICSI can improve the quality of embryo in patients with poor-quality embryos in the previous IVF cycle. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of 178 IVF and 158 ICSI cycles for patients with poor-quality embryos in the previous IVF cycle in the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from March 2016 to June 2022. The 2PN rate, oocyte utilization rate and high-quality embryo rate and clinical pregnancy rate were compared between the two groups. Other outcome measures included the implantation rate, miscarriage rate and cycle cancelation rate. Results Compared with IVF, ICSI resulted in a similar 2PN rate, oocyte utilization rate and cycle cancelation rate. The high-quality embryo rate of ICSI group was significantly higher than that of IVF group (5.56% vs. 2.60%, P < 0.05). Among of them, a total of 239 patients performed embryo transfer, ICSI resulted in a significantly higher clinical pregnancy rate (55.56% vs. 40.98%, P < 0.05) compared with IVF, but there were no notable differences in miscarriage rate and implantation rate. Conclusion The present study suggested that ICSI can significantly improve the quality of embryo and clinical pregnancy of the patients with poor-quality embryos in the previous IVF cycle.