Do lunar phases affect conception rates in assisted reproduction?

Objectives: To assess the effect of the phases of the moon on pregnancy rates in humans following in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment.

Design: Retrospective, observational study.

Setting: Reproductive Medicine Unit, Liverpool Women's Hospital.

Patient: Complete data for all women undergoing assisted conception procedures over a period of 13 years (1995-2002).

Intervention: Assisted conception procedures--IVF and ICSI.

Main Outcome Measures: Biochemical pregnancy that is positive pregnancy test result following embryo transfer.

Results: There was no significant effect of any lunar phase on the incidence of biochemical pregnancy (p-value 0.71). Age of the woman significantly affects the chances of pregnancy, (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.91, 0.998, and p-value 0.04). The chances of pregnancy rises significantly with increase in the number of embryos replaced from 1 to 2 (OR 2.97, CI 1.36, 6.48, and p-value 0.01).

Conclusion: Pregnancy rates in humans, following assisted conception, appears to be independent of the effect of the lunar phase during which embryo transfer is carried out.