Thalassemia and assisted reproduction: non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia shows no significant effect on live birth rates after embryo transfer
BackgroundThalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder that can impact fertility due to various factors such as iron overload and endocrine disruption. While the effects of iron overload on fertility outcomes in transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) have been well-documented, there is limited data o...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology |
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| author | Li Fan Li Fan Liuyan Wei Liuyan Wei Ni Tang Ni Tang Zhetao Li Zhetao Li Wugao Li Wugao Li Liuying Nong Liuying Nong Jingjing Li Jingjing Li Jingjing Li Jingjing Li Wenjie Huang Wenjie Huang |
| author_facet | Li Fan Li Fan Liuyan Wei Liuyan Wei Ni Tang Ni Tang Zhetao Li Zhetao Li Wugao Li Wugao Li Liuying Nong Liuying Nong Jingjing Li Jingjing Li Jingjing Li Jingjing Li Wenjie Huang Wenjie Huang |
| author_sort | Li Fan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder that can impact fertility due to various factors such as iron overload and endocrine disruption. While the effects of iron overload on fertility outcomes in transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) have been well-documented, there is limited data on how NTDT affects assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes. This study aims to assess the fertility and pregnancy outcomes of NTDT patients compared to thalassemia carriers (TC) patients in IVF and frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study analyzed 6,911 female patients who underwent autologous IVF treatment at a private reproductive center between January 2013 and December 2022. The study included women who were carriers of thalassemia or diagnosed with NTDT. ART outcomes, including oocyte retrieval rate, embryo development (maturation rate, number of fertilized oocytes and blastocyst formation rate), clinical pregnancy rate, live birth rate, and miscarriage rate, were compared between NTDT and TC patients. Propensity score matching (PSM) and multivariable adjustments for potential confounders were applied in the statistical analyses.ResultsNTDT patients had a significantly lower oocyte retrieval rate (0.88 vs. 0.93, p < 0.05) and a longer interval from medication initiation to oocyte retrieval (13.35 days vs. 12.38 days, p < 0.05) compared to TC patients. However, NTDT patients exhibited higher oocyte maturation rates and a greater number of fertilized oocytes. Despite these differences in embryo development metrics, there were no statistically significant differences in clinical pregnancy rates and live birth rates between NTDT and TC patients in both fresh embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and FET cycles (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that while NTDT may affect certain aspects of embryo development, it does not significantly impact overall pregnancy outcomes in ART.ConclusionThis study provides valuable insights into ART outcomes for NTDT patients, showing that, despite challenges in oocyte retrieval, their fertility and pregnancy outcomes are comparable to those of thalassemia carriers. Clinicians should consider individualized treatment plans and provide comprehensive counseling for NTDT patients, focusing on their specific fertility characteristics, to optimize ART outcomes. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms affecting embryo development in NTDT patients and to confirm these findings in broader populations. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-a1e6adbf7e3d42e7b49d11e31c71b9442025-08-20T03:43:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology2296-634X2025-03-011310.3389/fcell.2025.15735721573572Thalassemia and assisted reproduction: non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia shows no significant effect on live birth rates after embryo transferLi Fan0Li Fan1Liuyan Wei2Liuyan Wei3Ni Tang4Ni Tang5Zhetao Li6Zhetao Li7Wugao Li8Wugao Li9Liuying Nong10Liuying Nong11Jingjing Li12Jingjing Li13Jingjing Li14Jingjing Li15Wenjie Huang16Wenjie Huang17Department of Reproductive Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center Liuzhou Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, Liuzhou maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center Liuzhou Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, Liuzhou maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center Liuzhou Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, Liuzhou maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center Liuzhou Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, Liuzhou maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center Liuzhou Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, Liuzhou maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center Liuzhou Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, Liuzhou maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center Liuzhou Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, Liuzhou maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, ChinaGuangxi Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Liuzhou, Guangxi, ChinaLiuzhou Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Tumor, Liuzhou, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center Liuzhou Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, Liuzhou maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, ChinaBackgroundThalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder that can impact fertility due to various factors such as iron overload and endocrine disruption. While the effects of iron overload on fertility outcomes in transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) have been well-documented, there is limited data on how NTDT affects assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes. This study aims to assess the fertility and pregnancy outcomes of NTDT patients compared to thalassemia carriers (TC) patients in IVF and frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study analyzed 6,911 female patients who underwent autologous IVF treatment at a private reproductive center between January 2013 and December 2022. The study included women who were carriers of thalassemia or diagnosed with NTDT. ART outcomes, including oocyte retrieval rate, embryo development (maturation rate, number of fertilized oocytes and blastocyst formation rate), clinical pregnancy rate, live birth rate, and miscarriage rate, were compared between NTDT and TC patients. Propensity score matching (PSM) and multivariable adjustments for potential confounders were applied in the statistical analyses.ResultsNTDT patients had a significantly lower oocyte retrieval rate (0.88 vs. 0.93, p < 0.05) and a longer interval from medication initiation to oocyte retrieval (13.35 days vs. 12.38 days, p < 0.05) compared to TC patients. However, NTDT patients exhibited higher oocyte maturation rates and a greater number of fertilized oocytes. Despite these differences in embryo development metrics, there were no statistically significant differences in clinical pregnancy rates and live birth rates between NTDT and TC patients in both fresh embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and FET cycles (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that while NTDT may affect certain aspects of embryo development, it does not significantly impact overall pregnancy outcomes in ART.ConclusionThis study provides valuable insights into ART outcomes for NTDT patients, showing that, despite challenges in oocyte retrieval, their fertility and pregnancy outcomes are comparable to those of thalassemia carriers. Clinicians should consider individualized treatment plans and provide comprehensive counseling for NTDT patients, focusing on their specific fertility characteristics, to optimize ART outcomes. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms affecting embryo development in NTDT patients and to confirm these findings in broader populations.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1573572/fullnon-transfusion-dependent thalassemiathalassemia carrierslive birth rateassisted reproductive technologyclinical pregnancy |
| spellingShingle | Li Fan Li Fan Liuyan Wei Liuyan Wei Ni Tang Ni Tang Zhetao Li Zhetao Li Wugao Li Wugao Li Liuying Nong Liuying Nong Jingjing Li Jingjing Li Jingjing Li Jingjing Li Wenjie Huang Wenjie Huang Thalassemia and assisted reproduction: non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia shows no significant effect on live birth rates after embryo transfer Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia thalassemia carriers live birth rate assisted reproductive technology clinical pregnancy |
| title | Thalassemia and assisted reproduction: non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia shows no significant effect on live birth rates after embryo transfer |
| title_full | Thalassemia and assisted reproduction: non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia shows no significant effect on live birth rates after embryo transfer |
| title_fullStr | Thalassemia and assisted reproduction: non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia shows no significant effect on live birth rates after embryo transfer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thalassemia and assisted reproduction: non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia shows no significant effect on live birth rates after embryo transfer |
| title_short | Thalassemia and assisted reproduction: non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia shows no significant effect on live birth rates after embryo transfer |
| title_sort | thalassemia and assisted reproduction non transfusion dependent thalassemia shows no significant effect on live birth rates after embryo transfer |
| topic | non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia thalassemia carriers live birth rate assisted reproductive technology clinical pregnancy |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1573572/full |
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