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Reproductive and Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Outcomes in East Asian Women

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Book cover Ethnic Differences in Fertility and Assisted Reproduction

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Abstract

Health disparities research in women’s reproductive health is evolving and racial disparities have emerged in many areas including in assisted reproductive technology (ART) and reproductive aging in Asian women compared to Caucasians. Observed differences in East Asian women may reflect true biologic differences because of genetic background or may result from various environmental exposures, lifestyle factors, cultural factors, access to care, and specifics of treatments once care has been accessed. All of the studies investigating the disparities in ART outcomes between Asian and Caucasian women demonstrated significantly low implantation, clinical pregnancy, and live birthrates in Asian women using autologous eggs. Higher peak estradiol levels during the ovarian stimulation creating glandular–stromal dyssynchrony may be one of the explanations of the worse pregnancy outcomes in Asian women. Later age of natural menopause and lower prevalence of premature ovarian failure have been reported in some East Asian populations compared to Caucasians. There are still major knowledge gaps in our understanding of these racial and ethnic disparities in East Asian women. Further research to improve our understanding of the source of these disparities is critical to optimizing the delivery of reproductive care across our increasingly diverse society.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Services, University of California, 2356 Sutter Street, 7th floor, San Francisco, CA, 94115, USA

    Hakan Cakmak M.D., Heather G. Huddleston M.D. & Victor Y. Fujimoto M.D.

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  1. Hakan Cakmak M.D.
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  2. Heather G. Huddleston M.D.
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  3. Victor Y. Fujimoto M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Victor Y. Fujimoto M.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Ob/Gyn, George Washington University, Sunset Hills Road 11150, Reston, 20190, Virginia, USA

    Fady I. Sharara

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Cakmak, H., Huddleston, H.G., Fujimoto, V.Y. (2013). Reproductive and Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Outcomes in East Asian Women. In: Sharara, F. (eds) Ethnic Differences in Fertility and Assisted Reproduction. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7548-4_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7548-4_7

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