Abstract Background Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often affects women of reproductive age, raising concerns about fertility and outcomes of assisted reproduction. Evidence regarding in vitro fertilisation (IVF) success in IBD is scarce and inconsistent. Aims To compare cumulative live-birth rates after up to three IVF cycles between women with IBD and healthy controls, and to identify factors associated with reproductive success. Methods We performed a retrospective, multicentre, case-controlled study. Women with IBD who underwent at least one IVF cycle (2012–2022) were included. Each case was matched with up to four controls by women age at IVF (±3 years). Demographics, disease characteristics, infertility cause, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, smoking status and perinatal outcomes were analysed. Results Twenty-eight women with IBD (21 CD, 8 UC) and 104 controls were enrolled from nine Spanish centres from GETECCU. The baseline characteristics of patients with IBD undergoing IVF are shown in Table 1. Mean maternal age was 34.5 ± 4.6 in cases vs 34.12 ± 4.2 in controls (p = 0.3). No differences were found in BMI, smoking habit, or comorbidities between both groups. The most common infertility cause was female factor (43% IBD vs 46%, p=ns), followed by male infertility and idiopathic factors. Mean AMH was 1.9ng/mL ±1.3 in patients with IBD vs. 2.1 ± 1.6 ng/mL in controls (p = 0.2). No differences were found in the number of antral follicles between cases and controls. The outcomes of IVF in women with IBD vs controls are shown in Table 2. In the whole cohort a numerically higher success rates was observed among women younger than 35 years and those with more than 10 antral follicles. No differences regarding birth weight, prematurity or malformations were detected in newborns from both cohorts. Conclusion Women with IBD achieve rates of live births after IVF that are comparable with those of infertile women without IBD. These findings suggest that IBD should not be considered a limitation for IVF. However, studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these results and to assess the impact of inflammatory activity and specific treatments on fertility and perinatal outcomes. Conflict of interest: Dr. Madero Velázquez, Lucía: No conflict of interest Fernández Peinado, Ana: No conflict of interest Fernandez Clotet, Agnes: None Borrás Capó, Aina: No conflict of interest Manau, Dolors: None Martinez Pascual, Cristina: No conflict of interest Cortés Sandoval., Salvador: No conflict of interest Brunet, Eduard: I have served as a speaker and consultant for Janssen and Chiesi, Kern, Takeda and Alfasigma. Costa, Laura: No conflict of interest Bastón Rey, Iria: Personal Fees: Iria Bastón Rey has received financial support for travelling and educational activities from or has served as an advisory board member for Abbvie, Johnson & Johnson, Takeda, Pfizer, Alfasigma, Ferring, Faes Farma and Otsuka Pharmaceutical and Adacyte. Boullon Batalla, Nuria: No conflict of interest Aguas, Peris: No conflict of interest Romeu Villarroya, Monica: No conflict of interest Rivas, Coral: no conflicts Perez Martinez, Isabel: “No conflicts” Llaneza, Plácido: No conflict of interest Martínez Martín, Gonzalo: No conflict of interest Varela Trastoy, Pilar: No conflict of interest Muñoz, Roser: No conflicts Belén Galipienso, Olivia: No conflict of interest Gutiérrez Casbas, Ana: No conflict of interest
Velázquez et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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