Strong preference for “genetic sonography” as non-invasive option of prenatal diagnosis in patients with pregnancies following intracytoplasmic sperm injection

Abstract

Objective: The option of prenatal diagnosis with nuchal translucency measurement at 10-14 weeks of gestation and second trimester targeted ultrasound including fetal echocardiography (genetic sonography) is reported in patients after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

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Methods: From January 1995 to December 1998, 153 consecutive patents, who had become pregnant after ICSI, were studied. They attended our unit for first and second trimester sonography.

Results: 67.8% primigravid and 80.9%o nulliparous women with a mean age of 32.3 years (+4,1) and 29.6% > 35 years of age were included. Multiple pregnancy rate was 19.7%, 189 fetuses were screened in total. Due to the introduction of genetic sonography in 1995, the rate of invasive prenatal diagnosis decreased from 74% in 1995, to 48%, 36% and 19% in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. Two inherited numerical and structural chromosomal anomalies in clinically healthy children at birth (1.0%) and four major malformations in all life born children and late abortions (2.1%) were recorded.

Conclusion: The results demonstrate that especially in women of advanced reproductive age with a long history of infertility a detailed, genetic sonography may be a reasonable and highly accepted alternative to avoid even the relatively low risks associated with invasive screening procedures.