Genesis Fertility Clinic Blog
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March 10, 2010
Does race affect IVF outcome?
According to a Statistics Canada report released this week, by 2031 visible minorities will be the majority in Vancouver. What does this mean for fertility care?
Differences in reproductive outcomes across racial groups have been reported. It is controversial, however, just how significant the differences are and how to apply studies of racial differences to our patients. We have mixed race couples, mixed race patients, and patients who have lived for variable amounts of time in Canada (e.g. some just arrived from another country this year while others’ families have lived in Canada for generations). No studies to date have examined these categories of patients; instead, we have information on women whose race can be “accurately” categorized.
What do we know about the influence of race on IVF outcome?
Black women have lower pregnancy rates from IVF compared to white women. Hispanic women have similar IVF pregnancy rates as white women but have higher miscarriage rates. Asian women have lower pregnancy rates than white women but higher than black women.
Once pregnant, black and Hispanic women are more likely to deliver preterm. White and Asian women have the same risk of a preterm delivery.
There are many possible reasons: differences in obesity rates, causes of infertility, socioeconomic status, environmental exposures, and behavioural factors.
At Genesis we adjust treatment protocols based on many patient factors. Going forward we look for trends in IVF outcomes of different racial groups to continue to try to optimize pregnancy rates.
Click here to read more about race and reproduction.
Dr. Beth Taylor, MD, FRCSC
Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility