Are there ethnic differences in pregnancy rates in African-American versus white women undergoing frozen blastocyst transfers?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer pregnancy rates (PR) are lower in African-American compared with white women.


METHODS
Retrospective review of frozen blastocyst cycles.


METHODS
University-based assisted reproductive technology (ART) program.


METHODS
All patients who underwent a frozen blastocyst transfer between 2003 and 2008.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Live birth rate.


RESULTS
One hundred sixty-nine patients underwent transfer of a frozen-thawed blastocyst. African-American women had a higher incidence of leiomyoma (40% vs. 10%) and tubal and uterine factor infertility. There was no difference in the live birth rate for African-American patients (28.0%) compared with white patients (30.2%). Of the patients who underwent a frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer, 58% (n=98) had their fresh, autologous IVF cycle, which produced the cryopreserved blastocyst, at Walter Reed Medical Center. A higher peak serum E2 level was noted in African-American patients (5,355 pg/mL) compared with white patients (4,541 pg/mL). During the fresh cycle, the live birth rates between African-American and white patients were significantly different at 16.7% versus 39.7%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Live birth rates after frozen blastocyst transfer are not different between African-American and white women despite a fourfold higher incidence of leiomyomas in African-American women.
Csokmay
John M
JM
Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
Hill
Micah J
MJ
Maguire
Marcy
M
Payson
Mark D
MD
Fujimoto
Victor Y
VY
Armstrong
Alicia Y
AY
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000208:ethnology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000208:ethnology*; D018873:Pregnancy Rate / Q000208:ethnology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
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