A new study has shown that IVF is more likely to work if egg collection is carried out during the summer months
Researchers in Australia have discovered that transferring frozen embryos collected in summer to a woman’s womb resulted in a 30 percent higher chance of a live birth than those retrieved in the autumn months.
The data was gained from a clinic in Perth over an eight-year period from January 2013 to December 2021.
During that time, there were 3,659 frozen embryo transfers, with embryos created from 2,155 IVF in 1,835 patients.
Their research looked at birth outcomes according to season, temperatures and the number of hours of bright sunshine.
They created three groups for the duration of sunshine when the eggs were collected, low, medium and high sunshine days.
Dr Sebastian Leathersich, who led the study, said: “Over the duration of our study, the average live birth rate following frozen embryo transfer was 27 births per 100 people.
“In our study, the average live birth rate was 28 births per 100 people. If eggs were collected in autumn, it was 26 births per 100 people, but if they were collected in the summer, the live birth rate was 31 per 100 people.”
Dr Leathersich said that although patients are advised to avoid smoking and alcohol, and a healthy lifestyle should be important regarding IVF outcomes, fertility specialists and patients should look at external factors such as environmental conditions.
Although, women are being advised not to rush for egg collection this summer as there have been conflicting findings on the effects of the seasons on pregnancies and live birth rates following egg collections and embryo freezing.
Scientists across the globe have raised their own concerns about the study, and one told inews that it was highly unlikely that seasonal variations can impact the live pregnancy and birth rate on its own.
Professor of reproductive medicine Dr Ying Cheong, of Southampton University, said: “Such associative data is useful and interesting, but I would not recommend patients rush in for only summer treatments. Fertility treatment requires a significant amount of careful planning, and patients must only come for their fertility treatments when they are clinically and psychologically ready, not when the sun shines.”
Does the sunny weather really increases the success of IVF? Dr Kyriakidis explains
