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Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Review

Maternal physical activity before IVF/ICSI cycles improves clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors: Meng Rao, Zhengyan Zeng, Li Tang

Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Objective

This meta-analysis was aimed to evaluate the association between maternal physical activity before IVF/ICSI cycles and reproductive outcomes.

Methods

We searched databases of PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science electronic databases, and ongoing trials up to November 2017 to identify studies that focused on the relationship between maternal physical activity before IVF/ICSI cycles and reproductive outcomes, including implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate and live birth rate. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals, were calculated to assess the results of each outcome.

Results

Eight published studies encompassing 3683 infertile couples undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment were included into the analysis. There was an increasing, but not statistically significant, trend in implantation rate for physically active women when compared with physically inactive women (OR = 1.95, 95% CI 0.99–3.83, I2 = 77%). No significant difference was found in miscarriage rate between physically active women and physically inactive women (OR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.41–1.44, I2 = 49%). However, rates of clinical pregnancy and live births in physically active women were significantly higher than those in physically inactive women (OR = 1.96, 95% CI 1.40, 2.73, I2 = 42% and OR = 1.95, 95% CI 1.06–3.59, I2 = 82%, respectively). Subgroup analysis helped to confirm these results.

Conclusions

Female physical activity before IVF/ICSI cycles was associated with increased rates of clinical pregnancy and live births, whereas only a small but not statistically significant increase was found in implantation rate, and no effect was shown on miscarriage rate.
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Metadata
Title
Maternal physical activity before IVF/ICSI cycles improves clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors
Meng Rao
Zhengyan Zeng
Li Tang
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7827
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-018-0328-z

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