Pregnancy outcome and live birth after IVF and ICSI according to embryo quality

The pregnancy outcome and the chances of birth were assessed according to embryo quality after IVF or ICSI.

The implantation rate (IR), the loss of gestational sacs rate (LGSR), and birth rate (BR) were determined according to the cleavage stage and the integrity of blastomeres after day-2 homogeneous embryo transfers (n = 1812).

The LGSR was higher after transfers of 2-3-cell or 5-6-cell embryos and was significantly increased when more than 20% of the embryo volume was fragmented in 4-cell embryos. After transfers of 4-cell embryos without fragmentation, the BR was significantly higher than the BR after transfers of 4-cell embryos with 1-20% fragmentation (16.6% vs 13.1%). The difference was the consequence of a higher IR (20.4% vs 17.3%) but also of a lower LGSR (18.9% vs 24.2%).

Not only implantation and the ability to give a pregnancy, but also the capacity to give a live birth are dependent on the embryo quality.