Decreased live births among women of Middle Eastern/North African ethnicity compared to Caucasian women.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study is to determine if IVF outcome disparities exist among MENA women in the USA in comparison to a control group of Caucasian women.


METHODS
A retrospective cohort study comparing MENA (N = 190) and Caucasian (N = 200) women undergoing their first IVF cycle between 5/2006 and 5/2014 was carried out at an academically affiliated fertility practice. All MENA cycles during that time period undergoing IVF/ICSI using autologous embryos and blastocyst transfers were compared to a control group of Caucasian women.


RESULTS
MENA women were significantly younger (32.9 vs 34.5, P < 0.005) and had a lower BMI (25.2 vs 27.1, P < 0.001). Male factor infertility was higher among partners of MENA women (62 vs 50%, P < 0.05). MENA women experienced decreased live birth rates per blastocyst transfer compared to Caucasian women after controlling for age and BMI (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.35-0.85 P = 0.007). The odds of a miscarriage were also significantly higher among MENA women (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.04-6.27 P = 0.036).


CONCLUSIONS
Middle Eastern/North African women have worse IVF outcomes with decreased live birth rates per blastocyst transfer and increased miscarriage rates compared to Caucasian women.
University of Southern California, 020 Zonal Ave, IRD Room 533, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA. salem.wael@gmail.com.
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http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9353-3548
WH
Salem
IVF Michigan, Rochester Hills/Flint MI, 3950 S Rochester Rd, Ste 2300, Rochester Hills, MI, 48307, USA.
A
A
Abdullah
IVF Michigan, Rochester Hills/Flint MI, 3950 S Rochester Rd, Ste 2300, Rochester Hills, MI, 48307, USA.
O
O
Abuzeid
University of Southern California, 020 Zonal Ave, IRD Room 533, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
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K
Bendikson
Virginia Center for Reproductive Medicine, 11150 Sunset Hills Rd #100, Reston, VA, 20190, USA.
F I
FI
Sharara
IVF Michigan, Rochester Hills/Flint MI, 3950 S Rochester Rd, Ste 2300, Rochester Hills, MI, 48307, USA.
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M
Abuzeid
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000352:Africa, Northern / Q000453:epidemiology; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D050498:Live Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D044465:White People
Arab American; Ethnicity; Health disparity; IVF; Race