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 an d their obstetric outcome after intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Methods: The study group comprised women who delivered twins or triplets af ter intracytoplasmic sperm injection and standard in vitro fertilization. T he incidence and main perinatal outcome of 140 multiple pregnancies resulti ng from intracytoplasmic sperm injection or standard in vitro fertilization treatment were analyzed. Results: A total of 60 multiple pregnancies was obtained after intracytopla smic sperm injection (3.4 +/- 1.1 embryos/cycle) and 80 after standard in v itro fertilization (3.3 +/- 2.0 embryo/cycle). The incidence of multiple pr egnancy, i.e., 22.6 compared to 20.7%, respectively was calculated The obst etric outcome of 47 multiple pregnancies after intracytoplasmic sperm injec tion 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 fertiliza tion was similar. No major malformations were observed. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the incidence of multipl e pregnancies after intracytoplasmic sperm injection was similar to that af ter standard, conventional in vitro fertilization. The perinatal outcome di d not differ between both groups.