Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) before egg retrieval in IVF can significantly reduce
the chances of a live birth, according to a study presented at the ESHRE 40th Annual
Meeting in Amsterdam. The research found that higher levels of PM10 exposure in the two
weeks leading up to egg collection reduced live birth odds by 38% compared to lower
exposure levels.
Conducted over eight years in Perth, Australia, and set to be published in Human
Reproduction, the study analyzed 3,659 frozen embryo transfers from 1,836 patients. The
median age of the women was 34.5 years at egg retrieval and 36.1 years at embryo transfer.
Air pollution levels were monitored over four periods before egg retrieval: 24 hours, 2 weeks,
4 weeks, and 3 months. The study also found that increased PM2.5 exposure in the three
months prior to egg retrieval was associated with lower live birth rates.
Despite generally good air quality in Perth, the negative effects of pollution were evident.
PM10 and PM2.5 levels only exceeded WHO guidelines on 0.4% and 4.5% of study days,
respectively.
Lead author Dr. Sebastian Leathersich noted that this is the first study to separately analyze
the impact of pollutants during egg development and early pregnancy stages using frozen
embryo transfer cycles. The findings highlight the detrimental effect of pollution on egg
quality, not just early pregnancy.
Dr. Leathersich emphasized the broader health risks of outdoor air pollution, which causes
over 4 million premature deaths annually, and called for reducing pollution exposure as a
public health priority. The study underscores a clear link between air pollution and lower IVF
success rates.
