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A meta-analysis of atosiban supplementation among patients undergoing assisted reproduction

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Abstract

Objectives

Evidence for the efficacy of atosiban in improving pregnancy outcomes among patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) remains inconsistent.

Methods

The PubMed, EMBASE, and CNKI databases were searched using keywords such as ‘atosiban’, ‘infertility’, and ‘ART’. Studies that explored the efficacy of atosiban in the field of ART for patients with embryo transfer (ET) were included if they evaluated pregnancy outcomes. Combing using subgroups and sensitivity analysis were conducted, and risk ratios (RRs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

Results

Six studies were included. Atosiban treatment could improve pregnancy outcomes for all patients undergoing ET, especially for the subgroups of patients with repeated implantation failure (RIF) (implantation rate: RR = 1.806, 95% CI = 1.473–2.215; clinical pregnancy rate: RR = 1.725, 95% CI = 1.394–2.135; live birth rate: RR = 2.141, 95% CI = 1.494–3.068), as shown by the comparison with placebo or no-treatment groups. However, no statistical significance was detected in subgroups of patients undergoing their first or second ET cycle. In addition, no significant differences were observed in positive pregnancy tests, miscarriage rates, multiple pregnancy rates, or ectopic pregnancy rates.

Conclusions

Supplementation with atosiban has a positive effect on ART and embryo transfer procedure, especially for women undergoing their third or more ET cycle.

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

JL, YC, and HYZ conceived and designed the study. JL, ARW, and YC analyzed the data. HYZ and JL wrote the “Introduction” and “Discussion”. JL, ARW, and YC wrote the “Materials and methods” and “Results”. HYZ, ARW, and YC provided significant advice for the manuscript. JL, HYZ, and ARW were mainly responsible to write and modify the draft.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jie Li or Haiying Zhang.

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There is no funding.

Conflict of interest

Authors (J.L., Y.C., AR. W., and HY. Z.) declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Li, J., Chen, Y., Wang, A. et al. A meta-analysis of atosiban supplementation among patients undergoing assisted reproduction. Arch Gynecol Obstet 296, 623–634 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-017-4455-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-017-4455-0

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