A retrospective study comparing maternal-infant outcome analysis of live births from patients undergoing painless oocyte retrieval versus conventional oocyte retrieval.

Objective: To investigate the maternal-infant outcomes of live births resulting from painless oocyte retrieval within assisted reproductive technology (ART).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of clinical data from patients who achieved live births through in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) at the Reproductive Medicine Center of Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital from September 2021 to May 2023. The study included 5,806 cycles of fresh embryo transfers during the early follicular phase prolonged protocol. Propensity score matching yielded 1,563 cases in both the painless oocyte retrieval group and the control group(the routine oocyte retrieval group). Univariate analysis was utilized to assess differences in basic clinical data, maternal complications, and neonatal birth outcomes.

Results: There was no statistical significance between the two groups in terms of oocyte retrieval numbers, fertilization methods, matured ICSI oocytes, normal fertilized oocytes, normal cleavage oocytes, high-quality embryos, transferable embryos, ICSI oocyte maturation rates, normal fertilization rates, normal cleavage rates, high-quality embryo rates, transplantable blastocyst formation rates, rates of non-transplantable embryos, and fresh embryo transfer rates (all P > 0.05). Similarly, there were no significant differences in the number of embryos transferred, types of embryos transplanted, the presence of at least one high-quality embryo during transplantation, HCG positive rates, biochemical abortion rates, embryo implantation rates, clinical pregnancy rates, abortion rates, live birth rates, single fetus rates, and multiple pregnancy rates between the 2 groups (all P > 0.05). There were also no significant differences in gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, placental abnormalities, polyhydramnios, oligohydramnios, cesarean section rates, and premature rupture of membranes between the groups (all P > 0.05). However, there was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of single live births larger than gestational age (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in sex distribution, preterm and very preterm birth rates, postmature birth rates, proportions of low birth weight, very low birth weight, giant infants, incidences of small for gestational age, and birth defects between the 2 groups (all P > 0.05).

Conclusion: The medication used in painless oocyte retrieval does not impact the fertilization of oocytes, follicular maturation, cleavage, or clinical pregnancy rates, nor does it increase the risk of maternal complications or birth defects in live births. These findings have important clinical implications for the safety of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The observed results should be considered when counseling patients about the potential risks and benefits of ART, thus contributing to better - informed decisions and enhanced patient comfort.