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Outcomes of assisted reproductive technology procedures performed on weekdays versus weekends: a retrospective cohort study

  • Assisted Reproduction Technologies
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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate if assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes are different based on whether procedures – oocyte retrieval, insemination, embryo biopsy, or embryo transfer – are performed on a weekday versus weekend/holiday.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of all patients ≥ 18 years old who underwent oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization or oocyte banking (n = 3,197 cycles), fresh or natural-cycle frozen embryo transfers (n = 1,739 transfers), or had embryos biopsied for pre-implantation genetic testing (n = 4,568 embryos) in a large academic practice from 2015–2020. The primary outcomes were as follows: oocyte maturity for oocyte retrievals; fertilization rate for insemination; rate of no result on pre-implantation genetic testing for embryo biopsy; and live birth rate for embryo transfers.

Results

The average number of procedures performed per embryologist per day was higher on weekends/holidays than weekdays. For oocyte retrievals performed on weekdays vs. weekends/holidays, there was no difference in oocyte maturity rate (88% vs 88%). There was no difference in the fertilization rate (82% vs 80%) in cycles that had intracytoplasmic sperm injection performed on weekdays vs. weekends/holidays. No difference was found in the no result rate for embryos biopsied on weekdays vs. weekends/holidays (2.5% vs 1.8%). Finally, there was no difference by weekday vs. weekend/holiday in the live birth rate per transfer among all transfers (39.6% vs 36.1%), or when stratified by fresh (35.1% vs 34.9%) or frozen embryo transfer (49.7% vs. 39.6%).

Conclusion

We found no differences in ART outcomes among women who had their oocyte retrievals, inseminations, embryo biopsies, or embryo transfers performed on weekdays versus weekends/holidays.

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Data Availability

Data were collected from a prospectively maintained clinical database at Penn Fertility Care at the University of Pennsylvania. Due to patient privacy concerns, de-identified data may be available by reasonable request under a data use agreement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, 3701 Market St, 8thFloor, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Andrey V. Dolinko, Nathanael C. Koelper, Dara S. Berger & Anuja Dokras

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  1. Andrey V. Dolinko
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  2. Nathanael C. Koelper
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  3. Dara S. Berger
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  4. Anuja Dokras
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Correspondence to Andrey V. Dolinko.

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Dolinko, A.V., Koelper, N.C., Berger, D.S. et al. Outcomes of assisted reproductive technology procedures performed on weekdays versus weekends: a retrospective cohort study. J Assist Reprod Genet 40, 2091–2099 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-023-02872-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-023-02872-2

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