Effects of uterine adenomyosis on clinical outcomes of infertility patients treated with in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET)

Objective: To explore the effects of uterine adenomyosis on the clinical outcomes of infertility patients treated with in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET).

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of 61 IVF/ICSI-ET cycles as the study group, diagnosed with uterine adenomyosis by transvaginal ultrasound, and 164 IVF/ICSI-ET cycles of patients with tubal infertility as the control group. The baseline characteristics, ovary response and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups.

Results: The implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate decreased significantly in the study group (P<0.05), and early abortion rate increased significantly (P<0.05). For patients with adenomyosis, GnRH-antagonist cycles tended to decrease clinical pregnancy rate and increase abortion rate (25.0% vs 45.0%, P=0.184; 66.7% vs 27.8%, P=0.247), and significantly decrease live birth rate (0% vs 30.8%, P=0.025), compared with GnRHa agonist cycles.

Conclusions: Uterine adenomyosis decreases implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and birth rate, and increases abortion rate significantly in patients with IVF/ICSI-ET. GnRH-antagonist cycles have adverse effects on the outcomes of adenomyosis; GnRH agonist long protocol cycles may increase clinical pregnancy rate and decrease abortion rate.