Incidence and perinatal outcome of multiple pregnancies after intracytoplasmic sperm injection compared to standard in vitro fertilization

Purpose: Our purpose was to assess the incidence of multiple pregnancies and their obstetric outcome after intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Methods: The study group comprised women who delivered twins or triplets after intracytoplasmic sperm injection and standard in vitro fertilization. The incidence and main perinatal outcome of 140 multiple pregnancies resulting from intracytoplasmic sperm injection or standard in vitro fertilization treatment were analyzed. Results: A total of 60 multiple pregnancies was obtained after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (3.4 +/- 1.1 embryos/cycle) and 80 after standard in vitro fertilization (3.3 +/- 2.0 embryo/cycle). The incidence of multiple pregnancy, i.e., 22.6 compared to 20.7%, respectively was calculated The obstetric outcome of 47 multiple pregnancies after intracytoplasmic sperm injection was 39 twin deliveries at between 27 and 37 weeks of gestation (mean, 36 +/- 3.3) and 8 successful triplet deliveries between 26 and 36 weeks of gestation (mean 32.6 +/- 2.4), The outcome after regular in vitro fertilization was similar. No major malformations were observed. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the incidence of multiple pregnancies after intracytoplasmic sperm injection was similar to that after standard, conventional in vitro fertilization. The perinatal outcome did not differ between both groups.