Influence of Ethnical Differences on the Egg Cell Collected in Patients Undergoing Fertility Treatment

Infertility is acknowledged worldwide as a major health concern with significant regional differences. The prevalence of infertility in women of reproductive age has been estimated to be one in every seven couples in the western world and one in every four couples in developing countries. Geographical, sociocultural / religious and ethnical dissimilarities contribute to these global variations in infertility prevalence. Infertility has a major impact on family stability in many cultures, especially in developing countries, where childlessness can impact sociocultural status.

So far, most fertility treatments are based on studies performed in Western countries and therefore mostly performed in Caucasian population and research regarding infertility causes and optimal treatments in other populations is scarce. The aim of this prospective study is therefore to analyze the differences in the basic parameters of the populations analyzed, considering the country of origin and ethnicity undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment as well as the stimulation outcome in regards to stimulation dosages and oocyte yield.

Inclusion criteria

• Couples with primary / secondary infertility who are planned to undergo IVF / ICSI treatment in one of the above mentioned centers and who agree to take part in this study.

Exclusion criteria

• Couples planned for oocyte and sperm donation
• Couples in whom the female partner has a history of:
• Chemotherapy or radiation which impacts the ovarian reserve
• Surgery at the ovaries / adnex region
• Tubal ligation
• Reversal of tubal ligation
• Endometriosis
• Couples in whom the male partner has a history of:
• Chemotherapy / Radiation which impacts the semen result
• Surgery at the testicles
• Vasectomy
• Surgery for reversal of vasectomy