Air pollution linked to IVF Failure

Among women trying to conceive through in-vitro fertilization (IVF), those exposed to greater air pollution may have a somewhat lower chance of success, a new study suggests.

The findings add to evidence that air quality may have subtle effects on reproduction. Several studies have linked exposure to air pollution during pregnancy to an increased risk of preterm delivery and low birthweight.

Dr Richard Legro and colleagues followed 7403 women who were undergoing their first IVF cycle, between 2000 and 2007, at rural, suburban and urban fertility clinics in Hershey, Rockville, Maryland or New York City. They used local air quality monitoring data from the US Environmental Protection Agency to estimate the daily air pollution levels near the women's homes and fertility clinics. They then related the effects of these pollutants at each stage of the IVF cycle and during pregnancy to the women's pregnancy outcomes.

Overall, 36 per cent of the women had a successful pregnancy after their first IVF treatment. Higher levels of nitrogen dioxide near a woman's home or the fertility clinic, and at any stage of the IVF cycle or pregnancy, were always associated with a lower chance of pregnancy and live birth.