Aneuploidy does not explain the difference in outcomes observed between Asian and Caucasian patients undergoing in vitro fertilization

ObjectiveTo understand whether reduced pregnancy and live birth rates for Asian patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) could be explained by discrepant rates of aneuploid embryos.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of all autologous and donor IVF cycles utilizing pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS) at a single infertility clinic from January 2012 to December 2013.ResultsAfter controlling for maternal age, there was no difference in aneuploidy rates of Caucasian patients compared to Asian patients'. A trend was discerned that embryos of Caucasians form blastocysts more frequently than those of Asian patients, reaching significance for patients aged 25 to 30 and 40 to 45, but there was no difference in the likelihood of having at least one euploid blastocyst to transfer in any age group.ConclusionWhile there may be a slight difference in blastocyst formation rates, there is no difference in aneuploidy or euploid blastocyst transfer rates between Asian and Caucasian patients that would explain the discrepancy in IVF outcomes observed between these patient populations. Possible ethnicity specific differences in non-ploidy related embryo viability and endometrial receptivity should be investigated as potential etiologies for this observation.