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Obstetric and neonatal outcomes after frozen–thawed embryos transfer with laser-assisted hatching: a retrospective cohort study

  • Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To ascertain if assisted hatching (AH) increases the risk of placenta-associated diseases and perinatal outcomes after frozen–thawed cleavage-stage embryo transfer.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated 924 women who conceived with frozen–thawed cleavage-stage embryos transfer with (n = 390) or without (n = 534) laser-AH between 2013 and 2015. Data were obtained from the database on in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients in Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital. We assessed neonatal (preterm birth, low birthweight, fetal macrosomia, stillbirth) and obstetric (miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, post-term pregnancy, gestational diabetes (GDM), preeclampsia, intrahepatic cholestasis (ICP), placenta previa, placental abruption, premature rupture of membranes) outcomes.

Results

In twins, the median birthweight was lower in the AH group than that in the control group, and the prevalence of low birthweight (< 2500 g) was significantly higher in the AH group; after adjusting for maternal age, body mass index, mode of fertilization, and parity, no significant difference was found. In twins, no significant difference was detected in the prevalence of stillbirth or preterm pregnancy. In singleton births, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of low birthweight, macrosomia, preterm pregnancy or post-term pregnancy between the two groups. In singletons and twins, there were no significant differences in the prevalence of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, preeclampsia, GDM, ICP, or placenta abruption between the two groups.

Conclusions

AH is a relatively safe method and our study provides important information for using this method in carefully selected patients.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank everyone in the Department of Reproductive Medicine within Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital for their scientific advice and encouragement.

Funding

This work was supported by Shanghai Public Health Bureau (20114151), National Family Planning Commission (C1-9) and Shanghai Family Planning Commission (2013JG07).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 2699 West Gaoke Road, Shanghai, 200040, China

    Jia Ping Pan, Shan Shan Liang, Mei Yuan Huang, Mei Zhao, Peng Cheng Kong, Yi Ping Liu, Xiao Ming Teng & Hai Xia Wu

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  1. Jia Ping Pan
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  2. Shan Shan Liang
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  3. Mei Yuan Huang
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  4. Mei Zhao
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  5. Peng Cheng Kong
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  7. Xiao Ming Teng
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  8. Hai Xia Wu
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Contributions

JPP data collection, SSL data collection and statistical analyses, MYH data collection, MZ data collection, PCK data collection, YPL data collection, XMT development and management of the study, HXW data collection and manuscript writing.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Xiao Ming Teng or Hai Xia Wu.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The study protocol was approved (2019-02) by the Ethics Committee of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital on January 1, 2019.

Informed consent

Written informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.

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Pan, J.P., Liang, S.S., Huang, M.Y. et al. Obstetric and neonatal outcomes after frozen–thawed embryos transfer with laser-assisted hatching: a retrospective cohort study. Arch Gynecol Obstet 305, 529–534 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-021-06153-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-021-06153-0

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