Do IVF culture conditions have an impact on neonatal outcomes? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose Are embryo culture conditions, including type of incubator, oxygen tension, and culture media, associated with obstetric or neonatal complications following in vitro fertilization (IVF)? Methods A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library was performed from January 01, 2008, until October 31, 2021. The studies reporting quantitative data on at least one of the primary outcomes (birthweight and preterm birth) for the exposure group and the control group were included. For oxygen tension, independent meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager, comparing hypoxia/normoxia. For culture media, a network meta-analysis was carried out using R software, allowing the inclusion of articles comparing two or more culture media. Results After reviewing 182 records, 39 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. A total of 28 studies were kept for review. Meta-analysis about the impact of incubator type on perinatal outcomes could not be carried out because of a limited number of studies. For oxygen tension, three studies were included. The pairwise meta-analysis comparing hypoxia/normoxia did not show any statistical difference for birthweight and gestational age at birth. For culture media, 18 studies were included. The network meta-analysis failed to reveal any significant impact of different culture media on birthweight or preterm birth. Conclusion No difference was observed for neonatal outcomes according to the embryo culture conditions evaluated in this review. Further research is needed about the safety of IVF culture conditions as far as future children’s health is concerned.