Effects of seasonal variations and meteorological factors on IVF pregnancy outcomes: a cohort study from Henan Province, China

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether seasonal variations and meteorological factors influence pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: University-affiliated reproductive medical center. SUBJECTS: Women aged < 35 years undergoing IVF from June 1, 2015, to June 1, 2019. INTERVENTIONS: Cycles were divided into four groups according to the date of the beginning of ovulation induction: spring (659 cycles), summer (578 cycles), autumn (519 cycles), and winter (534 cycles). RESULTS: The high-quality embryo rate was higher in autumn and winter than in cycles in which ovulation induction occurred in spring and summer (58.70% vs. 58.78% vs. 62.67% vs. 63.42%; P < 0.001). The results of linear regression analysis showed that the high-quality embryo rate was significantly correlated with the daily average temperature of ovulation induction (P = 0.037). The clinical pregnancy rates of cycles starting ovulation induction in spring, summer, and autumn were significantly higher than those starting in winter (70.71% vs. 73.18% vs. 70.13% vs. 65.17%; P = 0.031), while the biochemical pregnancy rate, early abortion rate, and live birth rate were not significantly different (P > 0.050). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed significant seasonal variation in clinical pregnancy (OR = 1.643, 95% CI = 1.203–2.243; P = 0.002), and that a higher daily average temperature at the time of ovulation induction increased the clinical pregnancy rate (OR = 1.012, 95% CI = 1.001–1.022; P = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: In women younger than 35 years who undergo IVF treatment, the season and ambient temperature on the date of the beginning of ovulation induction may have an impact on embryo development and clinical pregnancy.