[Prevention of multiple pregnancy after IVF/ICSI by elective single embryo transfer--pilot study]

To reduce the number of multiple pregnancies after IVF/ICSI treatment by an elective single embryo transfer, without significant reduction of pregnancy rate (PR).

A pilot study.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Olomouc.

The patients were devided into the three groups according to number and quality of transferred embryos: elective Single EmbryoTransfer (eSET, n = 14), Single EmbryoTransfer (SET, n = 21), and Double EmbryoTransfer--control group (DET, n = 85). After 3 days of cultivation the embryos were transferred. In all groups the following parameters were compared: age of the patient, number of oocytes obtained, fertilization rate, number of frozen embryos, pregnancy rate (PR), implantation rate (IR), abortions (AB) and the number of multiple pregnancy.

In eSET group PR and (or IR) was 42.8%, in SET group PR and (or IR) was 19%. There were no monozygotic twins in these groups. In DET group PR was 40.7% and IR 25.9%. Nine of these 33 pregnancies were twins (27%). Because of small number of the patients detailed statistical analyses were not performed.

An elective transfer of one "TOP" embryo can reduce the number of multiple pregnancies without significant decrease of pregnancy rate.