In vitro fertilization outcomes in previously cured tuberculosis patients: a retrospective study

To investigate whether cured tuberculosis affect assisted reproductive outcomes in infertile women.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to compare assisted reproductive outcomes between cured tuberculosis and non-tuberculosis patients. The primary outcomes were compared between fresh and frozen-thaw cycles in cured tuberculosis, as well as among different types of tuberculosis in fresh cycles.

In IVF and total patients, the pregnancy (P > 0.05) and live birth rates (P > 0.05) did not differ between tuberculosis and control group. However, in ICSI protocol, the pregnancy (P = 0.027) and live birth rates (P = 0.027) in tuberculosis group were lower than those in controls. The pregnancy rate in fresh cycles for tuberculosis patients was lower than in frozen-thaw cycles in each protocol (P = 0.001). The live birth rate in fresh cycles was higher than in frozen-thaw cycles in IVF patients (P = 0.008) and total patients (P = 0.015), while the live birth rate in fresh cycles was lower in ICSI patients (P = 0.011). The pregnancy rate (P > 0.05) and live birth rate (P > 0.05) among cured patients diagnosed with pelvic tuberculosis demonstrated no significant difference compared to those with pulmonary tuberculosis or other types.

Cured tuberculosis did not affect the primary assisted reproductive outcomes in infertile patients using IVF protocol. However, in ICSI protocol, tuberculosis had a negative impact on pregnancy outcomes in infertile women, even with treatment. The final pregnancy outcome of frozen-thaw cycle was worse than that of fresh cycle in IVF protocol but opposite in ICSI. If treated, there were no variations in pregnancy outcomes among different tuberculosis types.