Impact of daylight savings time on spontaneous pregnancy loss in in vitro fertilization patients

ABSTRACT

Transition into daylight savings time (DST) has studied negative impacts on health, but little is known regarding impact on fertility. This retrospective cohort study evaluates DST impact on pregnancy and pregnancy loss rates in 1,654 autologous in vitro fertilization cycles (2009 to 2012). Study groups were identified based on the relationship of DST to embryo transfer. Pregnancy rates were similar in Spring and Fall (41.4%, 42.2%). Pregnancy loss rates were also comparable between Spring and Fall (15.5%, 17.1%), but rates of loss were significantly higher in Spring when DST occurred after embryo transfer (24.3%). Loss was marked in patients with a history of prior spontaneous pregnancy loss (60.5%).

KEYWORDS:

• Daylight savings time
• IVF
• spontaneous pregnancy loss

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Howard J. Cabral, Ph.D. of the Boston University Clinical and Translational Science Institute (NIH 1UL1-TR001430) and Andrew Vallejo for advice and assistance in data analysis. This work was conducted with support from Hang Lee of the Harvard Catalyst |The Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center (National Center for Research Resources and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health Award UL1 TR001102) and financial contributions from Harvard University and its affiliated academic healthcare centers. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of Harvard Catalyst, Harvard University and its affiliated academic healthcare centers, or the National Institutes of Health.

Funding

This work has not received any financial support from any commercial entity.

Declaration of conflict of interest

The authors reported that they have no conflict of interests.

Additional information

Funding

This work has not received any financial support from any commercial entity.