Chromosomal polymorphisms in assisted reproduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effects of chromosomal polymorphisms in reproductive outcomes following IVF or ICSI. Literature in CENTRAL, CINAHL, EMBASE and MEDLINE were searched from 1974 to March 2020 with no language restrictions. Ten published cohort studies were chosen for analysis. Studies included females, males and couples undergoing assisted reproductive treatments with the presence or absence of chromosomal polymorphisms. Reproductive outcomes were reported and their quality assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Meta-analysis of five cohort studies (9,659 participants) indicated that female carriers with chromosomal polymorphisms had a higher miscarriage rate compared to non-carriers (risk ratio (RR) 1.54 (95% CI 1.19–1.98), whereas no significant association was found for males (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.64–1.43) and couples (RR 1.93, 95% CI 0.32–11.83) indicating that this effect appeared to be gender-dependent. There was no association between chromosomal polymorphisms and a higher rate of biochemical, clinical, ongoing pregnancy, and preterm and live birth.

Keywords:

• Infertility
• assisted reproduction
• chromosomal polymorphisms
• pregnancies
• miscarriages
• live births

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge Derick Yates (Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust) who helped design the search strategy for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

No external funding was either sought or obtained for this study.