Primigravida women undergoing IVF-embryo transfer- Risk factors for early Pregnancy loss

A recent study published in the journal "BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth" found the various risk factors of early pregnancy loss (EPL) in infertility patients undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer cycles. The various risk factors were 40 years of age and older, obesity, frozen-thaw cycle, thin endometrium, and non-isolated tubal factor. 

Infertility is a global health issue affecting millions of women worldwide. It affects women physically and psychologically. Early pregnancy loss is common in the first trimester of pregnancy. So, researchers from Jilin province, China conducted a study to explore the incidence and influencing factors for early pregnancy loss (EPL) in infertility patients with first pregnancy undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryo transfer cycles. 

A retrospective study was conducted from January 2016 to January 2021 on 2709 first pregnancy embryo transfer cycles. As per the cycle outcomes, they were divided into the EPL group having 411 patients, and the live birth group has 2298 patients. 

Results: 

• The EPL rate of the first-time pregnancies for infertility patients undergoing a fresh/frozen-thaw embryo transfer cycle was 14.1%.
• Compared to those under the age of 35, female patients aged 40 and older had increased odds of EPL.
• Female patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or greater were more likely to have EPLs than those in the normal BMI range.
• The odds of EPL after frozen-thaw embryo transfer were higher than those after fresh embryo transfer.
• A thin endometrium on the day of embryo transfer increased the odds of EPL.
• Transferring more than two embryos had lower odds of EPL than single-embryo transfer.
• Compared with other infertility diagnoses, tubal factor alone was associated with lower odds of EPL. 

Thus, the researchers concluded that obesity, frozen-thaw cycle, thin endometrium, non-isolated tubal factor, and age of more than 40 years were some of the risk factors associated with early pregnancy in first pregnancy women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. 

To read the full article, click here: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-022-04904-8 

Wang, M., Yang, X., Li, L. et al. Incidence and risk factors for early pregnancy loss in women with first pregnancy undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 22, 575 (2022).