The effect of chromosomal polymorphisms on the outcomes of fresh IVF/ICSI–ET cycles in a Chinese population

Abstract

Purpose Chromosomal polymorphisms (CPs) have been reported to be associated with infertility; however, their effects on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) are still controversial. In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of CPs on IVF/ICSI-ET outcomes. Methods To investigate whether CPs affected the outcomes of fresh IVF/ICSI-ET cycles in a Chinese population, we evaluated infertile couples with male carriers of CPs (n = 348), infertile couples with female carriers (n = 99), and unaffected couples (n = 400) who had received their first treatment cycles in our hospital between January 2013 and March 2015.Results CPs in either male or female carriers seemed to have adverse effects on IVF/ICSI-ET outcomes. CPs in male carriers affected outcomes mainly by decreasing the rates of fertilization, embryo cleavage, good quality embryos, clinical pregnancies, ongoing pregnancies, and deliveries as well as increasing the biochemical pregnancy rate (P < 0.05); CPs in female carriers affected outcomes only by lowering the embryo cleavage rate (P < 0.05). The mean fertilization rate of couples with male CP carriers undergoing IVF was significantly lower than that in those undergoing ICSI (61.1 versus 66.5 %, respectively; P = 0.0004). Conclusions Our data provide evidence for the involvement of CPs in the poor outcomes of fresh IVF/ICSI-ET cycles in a Chinese population. The use of ICSI might improve outcomes by increasing the fertilization rate for men with CPs.

Meta‐analysis of the association between chromosomal polymorphisms and outcomes of embryo transfer following in vitro fertilization and/or intracytoplasmic sperm injection

“…B) or males with chromosomal polymorphisms plus females with chromosomal polymorphisms (Fig. C) . The ORs were 3.37 (95% CI 0.86–13.24; P =0.08) and 1.71 (95% CI 0.98–2.97; P =0.06), respectively.…”

“…The good quality embryos rate was also reduced when the data for males with chromosomal polymorphisms and females with chromosomal polymorphisms were pooled (Fig. C) . The OR was 1.18 (95% CI 1.11–1.25; P <0.001).…”

“…Two of these four studies did not include pregnancy outcomes following IVF/ICSI, whereas the other two lacked detailed information of pregnancy outcomes. The studies included in the present meta‐analysis (n=8) all had a case–control design and were published in peer‐reviewed journals between 2005 and 2017 . Table shows the characteristics and quality assessment scores of these eight studies.…”

“…The characteristics of the eight studies included in the present meta‐analysis are shown in Table . Fertilization rate, cleavage rate, and good quality embryos rate were evaluated in four studies; early spontaneous abortion rate and clinical pregnancy rate were evaluated in seven studies; and ongoing pregnancy rate and live birth rate were evaluated in five studies . Most of the studies (n=7) were conducted in China .…”

“…The effects of chromosomal polymorphisms on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization and/or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) are contradictory. Some studies found no effect on IVF/ICSI outcomes, whereas others concluded that chromosomal polymorphisms were associated with adverse effects . The outcomes found to be affected by chromosomal polymorphisms included fertilization rate; implantation rate; cleavage rate; good quality embryos rate; pregnancy rate; biochemical pregnancy rate; clinical pregnancy rate; cumulative early spontaneous abortion rate; and cumulative live birth rate.…”