Single embryo transfer--possibilities and limits
Paseková, V.; Mardesić, T.; Voboril, J.; Vilímová, S.; Jelínková, V.
Ceska Gynekologie 76(5): 397-400
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 1210-7832 PMID: 22132643 Document Number: 650675
To evaluate the results of single embryo transfers, on a set of patients, for a given period of time. Retrospective study. Pronatal Sanatorium, Prague. Between January 2008 and May 2010, we evaluated the results of all cycles with single embryo transfers in our workplace. There were four groups of patients: the first group with elective single embryo transfers (ESET, n=147), the second group with only a single embryo transfer without selection (SET n=269), the third group with transfer of one embryo derived from the native cycle (NC, n=70) and the last group with transfer of only one embryo examinated by preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD, n=104). All patients were monitored by age, length of cultivation of embryos, clinical pregnancy rate/transfer (CPR/ET), pregnancy loss (AB) and baby take home rate (BTR). Statistical evaluation was performed using the chi square test. The group with ESET achieved a significantly higher success rate (50% CPR/ET, p<0.001) compared to the other groups: 22% for SET, 7% of spontaneous cycles and 18% after PGD. A significant difference (p<0.001) was also apparent in the evaluation of BTR: ESET 41%, 16% SET, NC 4%, 12.5% of PGD. Patients that made ESET were significantly younger (p<0.001) compared to the other monitored groups (32.9 ESET, SET 35.2, NC 39.6, 39.1 PGD). We consider that assisted reproduction is only successful with the birth of one healthy child. For women 38 years old or younger the most successful treatment is to transfer a single high quality embryo and to therefore eliminate multiple pregnancy. The age of a woman and the quality of the embryo are major prognostic factors.