The effect of laser-assisted hatching on pregnancy outcomes of cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

AbstractIt is well known that laser-assisted hatching (LAH) is the most popular and ideal embryo hatching technology, but the relevance to pregnancy outcomes of cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer (ET) is controversial. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of LAH on pregnancy outcomes of cryopreserved-thawed ET. We searched for relevant studies published in the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central databases up to March 2017. This meta-analysis was primarily used to evaluate the effect of laser-assisted hatching on assisted reproductive outcomes: clinical pregnancy, embryo implantation, multiple pregnancy, miscarriage, and live birth. Using the Mantel-Haenszel fixed effects model and random effects model, we determined the summary odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). There were 12 randomized controlled trials (more than 2574 participants) included in our analysis. The rates of clinical pregnancy (OR  = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.24–2.19,I2 = 49), implantation (OR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.06–2.38,I2 = 82%), multiple pregnancy (OR = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.30–4.07,I2 = 33%), miscarriage (OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.50–1.48,I2 = 0%), and live birth (OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.77–1.54,I2 = 0%) revealed comparable results for both groups. In summary, this meta-analysis demonstrates that LAH is related to a higher clinical pregnancy rate, embryo implantation rate, and multiple pregnancy rate in women with cryopreserved-thawed embryos....
Source: Lasers in Medical Science - Category: Laser Surgery Source Type: research