Does duration of abstinence affect the live-birth rate after assisted reproductive technology? A retrospective analysis of 1,030 cycles.
OBJECTIVE
To study influence of abstinence period on the live-birth rate after assisted reproductive technology (ART).


DESIGN
Retrospective cohort study.


SETTING
Reproductive medicine unit, university-level hospital.


PATIENT(S)
A total 1,030 ART cycles evaluated from 2011 to 2015.


INTERVENTION(S)
Group I, abstinence period 2-7 days, and group II, abstinence period >7 days, were compared. Two subgroups Ia (2-4 days) and Ib (5-7 days) were also compared with group II.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
Primary outcome was live birth per ET. Secondary outcomes included implantation, clinical pregnancy, and miscarriage rates.


RESULT(S)
The live-birth rate (34.1 % vs. 24.1%; odds ratio [OR], 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-2.4), clinical pregnancy rate (44.4 % vs. 32.7%; OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.3), and implantation rate (26.4% vs. 18.2%) were significantly higher in group I compared with group II. Other secondary outcomes of fertilization rate and miscarriage rate did not differ between groups I and II. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for live birth (aOR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.5) and clinical pregnancy rates (aOR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2-2.5) were significantly higher for group I compared with group II. The live-birth rate was significantly higher in group Ia (36.1% vs. 24.1%) compared with group II.


CONCLUSION(S)
An abstinence period of more than 7 days may impact ART outcomes adversely when compared with an abstinence period of 2-7 days.
['Periyasamy|Anurekha J|AJ|', 'Mahasampath|Gowri|G|', 'Karthikeyan|Muthukumar|M|', 'Mangalaraj|Ann M|AM|', 'Kunjummen|Aleyamma T|AT|', 'Kamath|Mohan S|MS|']
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous D000328:Adult D016009:Chi-Square Distribution D010064:Embryo Implantation D005260:Female D005298:Fertility D006801:Humans D007246:Infertility D016014:Linear Models D050498:Live Birth D016015:Logistic Models D008297:Male D016017:Odds Ratio D011247:Pregnancy D018873:Pregnancy Rate D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted D012189:Retrospective Studies D012307:Risk Factors D055101:Semen Analysis D012746:Sexual Abstinence D013997:Time Factors D016896:Treatment Outcome
Abstinence live birth ICSI IVF