Gamete intrafallopian transfer. Does smoking play a role?

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Infertility Treatment
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) is an assisted reproductive technology.
• Smoking is a known risk factor for various health issues, but its specific impact on GIFT outcomes requires further clarification.
• Understanding the effects of both active and passive smoking is crucial for optimizing fertility treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of active and passive cigarette smoking on the success rates of gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT).

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 98 patients undergoing laparoscopic GIFT.
• Data collected included patient demographics, controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) details, oocyte retrieval and transfer numbers.
• Smoking status (active, passive, non-smoker) was determined through chart review and telephone surveys.

Main Results:

• Active smokers required more human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG) for COH compared to non-smokers.
• Pregnancy and live birth rates were significantly lower in active smokers (15.8% and 10.5%) versus passive smokers (46.2% and 23.1%) and non-smokers (45.5% and 33.3%).
• No significant difference in outcomes was observed between passive smokers and non-smokers.

Conclusions:

• Active smoking negatively affects GIFT outcomes, including pregnancy and live birth rates.
• Passive smoking does not appear to impact GIFT success rates.
• Patients should be advised to cease smoking before undergoing GIFT, although the effect of smoking cessation on outcomes warrants further investigation.