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Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 9/2022

11-07-2022 | Fertility | Assisted Reproduction Technologies

Similar reproductive outcomes between lesbian-shared IVF (ROPA) and IVF with autologous oocytes

Authors: Pedro Brandão, Nathan Ceschin, Fábio Cruz, Ricardo Sousa-Santos, Sérgio Reis-Soares, José Bellver

Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics | Issue 9/2022

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Abstract

Purpose

To compare reproductive outcomes of the ROPA method (reception of oocytes from partner) to IVF with autologous oocytes. To study the impact of the absence of a genetic link between the embryo and its recipient in reproductive outcomes.

Methods

Retrospective multicentric cohort study performed from January 2011 to December 2020 in 18 fertility clinics in Spain. A total of 99 ROPA (73 couples) and 2929 non-ROPA cycles (2334 couples or single patients) of women younger than 38 years old with no known female fertility disorder were included. Clinical outcomes were compared between both groups and included positive pregnancy test, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, pre-term birth, live birth, weeks of gestation at birth, and newborn weight at birth.

Results

No differences were found between groups in clinical outcomes. The total clinical pregnancy rates per embryo transfer were 57% and 50.2% (p = 0.15) and the live-birth rates were 46.1% and 40.9% (p = 0.14) for the ROPA and non-ROPA groups, respectively. When adjusted to age and BMI of donors and recipients, there were also no differences in live-birth rates between both groups. The cumulative live-birth rate per ROPA cycle was 73.7% and the cumulative live-birth rate per couple was 78.3%.

Conclusion

Clinical outcomes following the ROPA method and IVF with autologous oocytes were found to be similar. These findings suggest no impact of the absence of genetic ties between the embryo and the uterus on reproductive treatments’ outcomes. Data regarding the outcomes of the ROPA method are reassuring.
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Metadata
Title
Similar reproductive outcomes between lesbian-shared IVF (ROPA) and IVF with autologous oocytes
Authors
Pedro Brandão
Nathan Ceschin
Fábio Cruz
Ricardo Sousa-Santos
Sérgio Reis-Soares
José Bellver
Publication date
11-07-2022
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics / Issue 9/2022
Print ISSN: 1058-0468
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7330
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-022-02560-7

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