Sex ratio imbalance following blastocyst transfer is associated with ICSI but not with IVF: an analysis of 14,892 single embryo transfer cycles

Abstract

Purpose: Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has an impact on secondary sex ratio (SSR), which is seemed to be elevated after blastocyst transfer (BT) but decreased following ICSI procedure. We aim to assess whether the higher SSR associated with BT could be influenced by fertilization method used.

Methods: All consecutive IVF/ICSI cycles (fresh and frozen) involving single embryo transfer (SET) resulting in a live birth between 2015 and 2019 were retrospective analyzed. Logistic regression was used to model the effect on the SSR of maternal and specific ART characteristics.

Results: Six thousand nine hundred twenty-two women were included with the crude SSR of 54.8%. The impact of BT on SSR is influenced by the fertilization method used. After adjustment for potential confounders, the SSR in the ICSI BT group was significantly higher when compared to ICSI cleavage-stage embryo SET (aOR 1.24; 95% CI 1.10-1.40, P < 0.001). However, this effect was not detected among SBT with IVF treatment (aOR 1.04; 95% CI 0.97-1.12, P = 0.260). Assessing blastocyst morphological parameters, high trophectoderm quality was significantly associated with elevated SSR (aOR 1.76, 95% CI 1.34-2.31 [A vs. C], and aOR 1.28, 95% CI 1.14-1.44 [B vs. C]). No significant difference was shown in expansion, inner cell mass, or days of blastocyst formation between male and female blastocysts.

Conclusions: The impact of BT on SSR could be influenced by the fertilization method used. The higher SSR was observed after BT with ICSI procedures but not with IVF. Interpretation of the findings is limited by the potential for selection and confounding bias.

Keywords: Blastocyst transfer; Fertilization; Morphology; Secondary sex ratio; Single embryo transfer.