IVF success rates higher in spring
A new research conducted by a group of Brazilian scientists has suggested that the success rates for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) could be higher during certain times of the year like spring season.
The study, which was presented at the World Congress on Fertility and Sterility in Munich, said fertilization rates during spring stood at 73.5 percent compared to 67.5 percent in winter and the marginally higher percentages during summer and fall.
Daniela Braga, who headed the research group, says these findings followed the seasonal fertilization patterns during natural conception with rates in spring generally higher by about 1.5 times compared to the rest of the year.
Braga, who wrote the study note that was presented at the conference, also pointed out that the variation in fertilization rates could be the result of changing light patterns on neutrons of the brain that produce the hormones which stimulate the release of eggs.
A sample size of 1,932 women was studied by the research team. All these women were undergoing egg retrieval and the study team split the groups based on the time of the year that they had the egg retrieval process. Researchers also collected blood samples to compare estradiol levels to understand egg release patterns.
While the number of eggs retrieved, embryos created and implanted did not show any significant variance, the researchers observed that with change of seasons, fertilization rates differed. In the winter, 67.9 percent of eggs were fertilized while in spring, the number was 73.5 percent, 68.7 percent in summer and 69 percent during the fall.
Most healthcare specialists do not see any reason for changing the IVF procedures currently followed on grounds that the study did not depict any differences in the pregnancy rates.