Does duration of abstinence affect the live-birth rate after assisted reproductive technology? A retrospective analysis of 1,030 cycles

Objective: To study influence of abstinence period on the live-birth rate after assisted reproductive technology (ART). Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Reproductive medicine unit, university-level hospital. Patient(s): A total 1,030 ART cycles evaluated from 2011 to 2015. Intervention(s): Group I, abstinence period 2-7 days, and group II, abstinence period > 7 days, were compared. Two subgroups Ia (24 days) and Ib (5-7 days) were also compared with group II. Main Outcome Measure(s): Primary outcome was live birth per ET. Secondary outcomes included implantation, clinical pregnancy, and miscarriage rates. Result(s): The live-birth rate (34.1 % vs. 24.1%; odds ratio [OR], 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-2.4), clinical pregnancy rate (44.4 % vs. 32.7%; OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.3), and implantation rate (26.4% vs. 18.2%) were significantly higher in group I compared with group II. Other secondary outcomes of fertilization rate and miscarriage rate did not differ between groups I and II. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for live birth (aOR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.5) and clinical pregnancy rates (aOR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2-2.5) were significantly higher for group I compared with group II. The live-birth rate was significantly higher in group Ia (36.1% vs. 24.1%) compared with group II. Conclusion(s): An abstinence period of more than 7 days may impact ART outcomes adversely when compared with an abstinence period of 2-7 days. ((C) 2017 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)