The Effect of Intramural Myomas Without an Intracavity Component on In Vitro Fertilization Outcomes in Single Fresh Blastocyst Transfer Cycles

Study Objective

To assess clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR) in the presence of non–cavity-deforming intramural myomas in single fresh blastocyst transfer cycles.

Design

Retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

Setting

Academic fertility center.

Patients

A total of 929 fresh single blastocyst transfer cycles were included, 94 with only non–cavity-distorting intramural myomas and 764 without myomas. Cleavage embryo transfers were excluded to reduce bias based on embryo quality.

Interventions

None.

Measurements and Main Results

CPR and LBR were assessed. There were no differences noted in gravidity, parity, or body mass index between patients with myomas and those without myomas. Women with myomas required higher doses of gonadotropins (mean, 2653?±?404?IU vs 2350?±?1368?IU; p?=?.04) than women without myomas. However, the total number of mature oocytes collected and the total number of blastocysts created were similar. CPR (47% vs 32%; p?=?.005) and LBR (37.8% vs 25.5%; p?=?.02) were lower in patients who had intramural myomas compared with those without myomas. CPR and LBR were significantly reduced in the presence of even 1 myoma (odds ratio [OR], 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.33–0.83 and OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.35–0.92, respectively). In patients with myomas >1.5?cm, LBR was also significantly reduced, even after adjusting for age, smoking, quality of embryo transferred, antral follicle count, and dose of gonadotropins (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.29–0.97). This LBR finding was not significant if all myomas were included (including those <1.5?cm in diameter), but CPR was still significantly reduced.

Conclusion

Relatively small (>1.5?cm) non–cavity-distorting intramural myomas negatively affect CPR and LBR in in vitro fertilization cycles, even in the presence of only 1 myoma.