The in vitro fertilization program in Helsinki.

In the in vitro fertilization program at Departments I and II of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Helsinki, 57 patients were stimulated with clomiphene and hMG. Follicular growth was monitored by ultrasound and serum estradiol measurements. Laparoscopic follicular puncture was performed 36h after hCG injection. Three hundred seventy-five follicles were punctured and 227 oocytes recovered, representing an oocyte recovery rate of 61%. A total of 130 oocytes (57%) showed evidence of fertilization and 71% of the fertilized oocytes cleaved. Fifty-seven embryo transfers were carried out at the two-to eight-cell stage. Multiple embryos were transferred to 24 patients. Biochemical pregnancies were encountered in two cases; early abortions, 3–5 weeks after implantation, in two cases. One normal ongoing single pregnancy occurred from a transfer of three four-cell embryos.