Perinatal outcomes in singleton live births after fresh blastocyst-stage embryo transfer: a retrospective analysis of 67  147 IVF/ICSI cycles

This study is limited by the use of observational data and inability to adjust for key confounders, such as maternal smoking status and body mass index (BMI), which were not recorded in the HFEA dataset. As the main analysis was cycle-based and we were unable to link cycles within women undergoing more than one IVF/ICSI cycle, we undertook a sub-group analysis on women undergoing their first treatment cycle.WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGSOur findings should reassure women undergoing blastocyst-stage embryo transfer. For the first time, we have shown that babies born after blastocyst transfer have a similar chance of being healthy as those born after cleavage-stage embryos transfer.STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)The research activity of Dr Nicola Marconi was funded by the scholarship ‘A. Griffini-J. Miglierina’, Fondazione Comunitaria del Varesotto, Provincia di Varese, Italy. The authors do not have any competing interests to disclose.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERN/A
Source: Human Reproduction - Category: Reproduction Medicine Source Type: research