Does ethnicity influence in vitro fertilization (IVF) birth outcomes?
OBJECTIVE
To determine if ethnicity influences IVF birth outcome.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
University-based IVF program.


METHODS
All African American women (n = 71) and Caucasian women (n = 180) who underwent initial fresh, nondonor IVF/embryo transfer (ET) cycles between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2005.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Gonadotropin dose, duration of stimulation, peak estradiol levels, oocyte yield, implantation, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates.


RESULTS
African American women generated significantly fewer embryos than Caucasian women (5.3 +/- 3.7 vs. 6.6 +/- 4.8) despite having similar ages, day 3 FSH, peak estradiol levels, length of stimulation, and number of oocytes retrieved. In addition, compared with Caucasian women, African American had significantly greater body mass indices (26.5 +/- 5.2 vs. 23.7 +/- 4.8) and required significantly more total gonadotropin (IU) (4,791 +/- 2,161 vs. 3,725 +/- 2,005) for ovarian stimulation. African American women were more likely to have uterine fibroids (21% vs. 3%) and tubal factor infertility (23% vs. 9%). Caucasian women were more likely to have unexplained infertility (53% vs. 32%). Differences in embryo yield between patient groups persisted after accounting for differences in infertility diagnosis and prevalence of fibroids. Biochemical, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates as well as implantation rates (number of sacs visualized/number of embryos transferred) did not significantly differ between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Although African Americans yield fewer embryos than Caucasian women with IVF, these ethnic groups do not seem to differ with regard to IVF pregnancy outcomes.
Dayal
Molina B
MB
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Fertility, and IVF, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, George Washington Medical Faculty Associates, Washington, DC 20037, USA. mdayal@mfa.gwu.edu
Gindoff
Paul
P
Dubey
Anil
A
Spitzer
Trimble L B
TL
Bergin
Ashlee
A
Peak
Douglas
D
Frankfurter
David
D
D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American
D004958:Estradiol