Outcomes of assisted reproductive technology procedures performed on weekdays versus weekends: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate if assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes are different based on whether procedures - oocyte retrieval, insemination, embryo biopsy, or embryo transfer - are performed on a weekday versus weekend/holiday.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of all patients ≥ 18 years old who underwent oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization or oocyte banking (n = 3,197 cycles), fresh or natural-cycle frozen embryo transfers (n = 1,739 transfers), or had embryos biopsied for pre-implantation genetic testing (n = 4,568 embryos) in a large academic practice from 2015-2020. The primary outcomes were as follows: oocyte maturity for oocyte retrievals; fertilization rate for insemination; rate of no result on pre-implantation genetic testing for embryo biopsy; and live birth rate for embryo transfers.

Results: The average number of procedures performed per embryologist per day was higher on weekends/holidays than weekdays. For oocyte retrievals performed on weekdays vs. weekends/holidays, there was no difference in oocyte maturity rate (88% vs 88%). There was no difference in the fertilization rate (82% vs 80%) in cycles that had intracytoplasmic sperm injection performed on weekdays vs. weekends/holidays. No difference was found in the no result rate for embryos biopsied on weekdays vs. weekends/holidays (2.5% vs 1.8%). Finally, there was no difference by weekday vs. weekend/holiday in the live birth rate per transfer among all transfers (39.6% vs 36.1%), or when stratified by fresh (35.1% vs 34.9%) or frozen embryo transfer (49.7% vs. 39.6%).

Conclusion: We found no differences in ART outcomes among women who had their oocyte retrievals, inseminations, embryo biopsies, or embryo transfers performed on weekdays versus weekends/holidays.

Keywords: Assisted reproductive technology (ART); In vitro fertilization (IVF); Outcomes; Weekend.