Factors affecting the pregnancy outcome of in-vitro produced day 3 embryos: a retrospective cohort study of 467 patients

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate several factors, such as transfer of fresh embryos & body mass index (BMI), frozen embryos, endometrium thickness, and transfer of self and donor embryos, on the pregnancy outcomes in North Indian patients. In this observational retrospective cohort study, we enrolled 500 patients who underwent infertility treatment that visited IRCC Hospital, Panchkula, Haryana, India between June 2017 to June 2020 was studied. Out of 500 patients, only 467 patients were selected (93.40%) and 33 patients were excluded (6.60%) from the study. Patients were distributed in fresh embryo transfer n=312 (66.80%) and frozen embryo transfer n = 155 (33.19%). They were divided into six groups of different age groups patients: fresh embryo transfer on day 3, correlation with grade-A and grade-B embryos; group (C-1), fresh embryo transfer on day 3, correlation with age and endometrium thickness; group (C-2), fresh embryo transfer on day 3, correlation of IVF pregnancy with age and BMI; group (C-3), frozen embryo transfer on day 3, correlation with age and endometrium thickness; group (C - 4), self-frozen embryo transfer on day 3, correlation with age and endometrium thickness; group (C-5), donor frozen embryo transfer on day 3, correlation with age and endometrium thickness; group (C-6).  Of the six groups, the pregnancy rate was the lowest in the C-6 group (30.5%), while it was the highest in the C-5 group (65.2%). We also noticed that patients aged above 41 years have the lowest pregnancy rates; whereas, young patients had higher pregnancy rates. Conclusion: frozen self-embryo transfer seems to be the best choice for all maternal ages. Embryo transfers in this group might have low neonatal outcomes. In particular, frozen embryo transfers seem to benefit younger maternal age.