Investigating Outcomes of Gamete Donation in Assisted Reproductive Technology: A Retrospective Study

This study aims to evaluate and characterize Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) cycles, as well as the associated obstetric and neonatal outcomes, in pregnancies resulting from gamete donation at the Public Gamete Bank of the Centro Materno Infantil do Norte Dr. Albino Aroso (CMIN), Unidade Local de Saúde de Santo António (ULSSA), in Porto, Portugal.

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 238 gamete donation cycles from 2011 to 2021. Collected variables included recipient age, duration and cause of infertility, number of attempts, ART techniques employed, embryo transfer details, beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) values, live birth rates, gestational age, mode of delivery, and birth weight. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 27, with a significance threshold set at p<0.05.

Among sperm donation cases, 29.4% resulted in preterm deliveries, with 24.3% of pregnancies being non-ongoing and 47.7% leading to cesarean sections. Low birth weight was observed in 29.3% of singletons and 69% of twins. Multiple gestations occurred in 24.5% of cases, with a significant increase when two embryos were transferred (p=0.027). In oocyte donation situations, 40% of pregnancies resulted in preterm deliveries and 43.4% experienced low birth weight. Multiple pregnancies increased the risk of preterm delivery and low birth weight.

The high incidence of multiple gestations underscores the need for single embryo transfer, particularly for older oocyte recipients. It is crucial for couples to be educated about the associated risks and benefits of this approach, alongside the implementation of comprehensive maternal and fetal monitoring throughout the reproductive process.