Is there an association between the “October 7th “events and IVF outcomes in Israel?

Abstract

Research QuestionIs there an association between the “October 7th“events and IVF outcomes? DesignThis was s retrospective cohort study. The study group was defined as women treated during the four weeks after “October 7th“and compared to a matched control group treated between the 1st of January 2021 and to 6th of October 2023. Each woman in the study group was matched with three separate control subjects of the same female age at oocyte retrieval, BMI, number of IVF cycle, and ovarian reserve parameters. ResultsThe study included 580 patients. A total of 145 women who underwent oocyte retrieval or frozen embryo transfer after the 7th of October were compared to 435 women who were treated before the 7th of October. The mean age of the study group was 35.6±6 years, and the mean BMI was 24.7±5.3. Pregnancy rates per embryo transfer were similar between both groups (22.4% vs. 30.5%, P=0.28 in the fresh cycles and 16.9% vs. 27.1%, P=0.12 in frozen embryo transfers). Among women who underwent oocyte retrievals there was no differences in the ovarian stimulation protocols (P=0.95), the number of oocytes retrieved (P=0.16) and the number of fertilized oocytes (P=0.34). There was no difference in the good-quality embryo rates in both groups (P=0.053). Among women who underwent frozen embryo transfers, during the study period, more patients had natural cycles (52.5% vs 24%, P<0.001) with no difference in maximal endometrial thickness before embryo transfer (P=0.33). ConclusionIt appears that there was no association between the “October 7th“ events and IVF outcomes.