Effects of bicornuate uterus on pregnancy and obstetric outcomes of in vitro fertilization / intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

OBJECTIVE

A bicornuate uterus results from failure of the Müllerian ducts to completely fuse. If patients with bicornuate uterus are diagnosed with infertility, they can conceive with help from in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI). With few studies on the reproductive performances of bicornuate uterus following IVF/ICSI treatment, the aim of present study is to investigate whether a bicornuate uterus would affect pregnancy rates and obstetric outcomes of infertile women.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study contained 232 women (58 with bicornuate uterus and 174 with normal uterus) was conducted. Patient data for IVF/ICSI treatment and follow-up were collected and analyzed. Cumulative pregnancy rate and cumulative live birth rate after one complete assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycle were the primary outcomes.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics were comparable between the bicornuate uterus group and the control group. Ovarian response to stimulation and embryological results were similar between the two groups. In fresh embryo transfer cycles, embryo implantation rate (32.7 % vs. 42.9 %, P = 0.176), biochemical pregnancy rate (54.1 % vs. 64.9 %, P = 0.236), and clinical pregnancy rate (45.9 % vs. 58.8 %, P = 0.172) did not differ significantly between the bicornuate uterus group and the control group. Live birth rate (40.5 % vs. 43.9 %, P = 0.723), term delivery rate (93.3 % vs. 90.0 %, P = 0.696), cesarean section rate (73.3 % vs. 76.0 %, P = 0.833), and newborn birth weight (3.35 ± 0.56 vs. 3.32 ± 0.51, P = 0.524) also did not differ significantly between the two groups. In frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles, there were no significant differences in outcomes between the two groups. Upon completion of one IVF/ICSI cycle, cumulative pregnancy rate (59.6 % vs. 71.0 %, P = 0.112) and cumulative live birth rate (58.2 % vs. 64.8 %, P = 0.375) were similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

There were no significant differences in ovarian responses, pregnancy outcomes, and obstetric outcomes after IVF/ICSI treatment between women with bicornuate uterus and women with normal uterus. Bicornuate uterus had no significant negative effects on cumulative IVF/ICSI outcomes of infertile patients.