Clinical Outcomes for Couples Containing a Reciprocal Chromosome Translocation Carrier Without Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis

Objective: To evaluate the pregnancy outcomes of couples containing a carrier of a reciprocal chromosome translocation (RCT) after assisted reproductive technology without preimplantation genetic diagnosis.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed using data for couples with an RCT carrier and control couples with a normal karyotype (1:4 ratio) who underwent assisted reproductive technology cycles at a Chinese fertility center in 2010-2011. The embryos were fertilized via in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Only the first pick-up cycles were used for analysis. Clinical variables were compared.

Results: Compared with the control group (n=164), the RCT group (n=41) had a marginally lower clinical pregnancy rate (46.3% [19/41] vs 54.3% [89/164]), implantation rate (21.7% [23/106] vs 26.9% [118/438]), multiple-gestation pregnancy rate (21.1% [4/19] vs 32.6% [29/89]), and delivery rate (36.6% [15/41] vs 47.6% [78/164]), whereas the spontaneous abortion rate was slightly higher (21.1% [4/19] vs 12.4% [11/89]). However, none of these differences were significant.

Conclusion: The clinical outcomes for RCT carriers were acceptable after IVF/ICSI without performing preimplantation genetic diagnosis, indicating that this approach might comprise a feasible alternative fertility treatment for RCT carriers.