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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
The Immediate Partial Removal of Cumulus-Oocyte Complexes: A Refined Approach for Rapid Observation of In Vitro Fertilization
Published on: October 18, 2024
A prospective randomized trial of conventional in vitro fertilization versus intracytoplasmic sperm injection in
Shu C Foong1, Judy A Fleetham, Joseph A O'Keane
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. sfoong@mtsinai.on.ca
Purpose:
To compare outcomes in patients with unexplained infertility undergoing conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) versus intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Methods:
Sixty women with unexplained infertility in a Canadian tertiary-level clinic were randomized to IVF or ICSI. Subjects underwent downregulation with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist prior to initiation of recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone. The primary outcome measure was fertilization rate. Secondary outcomes included implantation rate, embryo quality, clinical pregnancy rate, and live birth rate.
Results:
There was no statistically significant difference in fertilization rate (77.2% IVF vs. 82.4% ICSI), implantation rate (38.2% IVF vs. 44.4% ICSI), clinical pregnancy rate (50% in each group), or live birth rate (46.7% IVF vs. 50% ICSI). There were two cases of failed fertilization in the IVF group. There was no significant difference in embryo quality between groups.
Conclusions:
There were no differences in clinical outcomes associated with IVF versus ICSI in the treatment of unexplained infertility.
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