Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of polar body biopsy (PBB) on pregnancy and pregnancy loss outcomes in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. METHODOLOGY: This is a retrospective case-control study that analyzed 147 ICSI embryo transfer (ET) cycles. The study included 82 subfertile patients (31 patients with ICSI and PBB therapy = case group; 51 patients with ICSI without the PBB therapy = control group). We conducted a statistical analysis of all pregnancies and births resulting from fresh and thawed ICSI cycles, with and without the use of PBB after a single embryo transfer (SET) of a blastocyst (BL). Our main outcome measures were the pregnancy and pregnancy outcome rates after ICSI with and without the PBB. RESULT: The implantation rate in the ICSI with PBB group was lower than in the ICSI without PBB group, but there were no significant differences (11 = 17.50% vs. 21 = 25.00%, RR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.28-1.44, p = 0.37). The yolk sac detection rate in the ICSI with PBB group was lower than in the ICSI without PBB group, but there were no significant differences (8 = 12.70% vs. 16 = 19.00%, RR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.25-1.55, p = 0.65). The fetal heartbeat rate in the ICSI with PBB group was lower than in the ICSI without PBB group, but there were no significant differences (7 = 11.10% vs. 12 = 14.30%, RR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.28-2.03, p = 0.75). The live birth rate in the ICSI with PBB group was higher than in the ICSI without PBB group, but there were no significant differences (5 = 7.90% vs. 5 = 6.00%, RR = 1.36, 95% CI: 0.37-4.92, p = 0.88). The total pregnancy loss rate was significantly lower in the ICSI with PBB group than in the ICSI without PBB group (6 = 9.50% vs. 19 = 22.60%, RR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.14-0.96, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: A bigger patient sample is needed for further evaluation, but based on our findings, we recommend the PBB in the cases of apparent or suspected genetic, maternal diseases and/or aneuploidies and for improving general ICSI outcomes, through the reduction of pregnancy loss rates. This information can support reproductive professionals and embryologists who are looking to invest in new solutions for their centers and labs.