Gingold JA, Wu H, Lieman H, Singh M, Jindal S. Fertility and Sterility Reports 5:23-32, 2024. PMID: 38524206.
WHY WAS THIS STUDY CONDUCTED?
To compare clinical outcomes between non-indicated intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and conventional insemination.
KEY FINDINGS
Non-indicated ICSI was associated with reduced blastocyst availability in fresh cycles compared with IVF, leading to lower live birth rates. Outcomes from completed transfers were clinically comparable.
WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS
ICSI for non-malefactor infertility (and non-indicated ICSI in general) offers no detectable clinical benefit in most cases, including fresh transfers and frozen-thawed transfers with PGT. Most strikingly, it suggests the potential for significant harm from on-indicated ICSI.