In vitro fertilization outcomes in previously cured tuberculosis patients: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether cured tuberculosis affect assisted reproductive outcomes in infertile women. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to compare assisted reproductive outcomes between cured tuberculosis and non-tuberculosis patients. The primary outcomes were compared between fresh and frozen-thaw cycles in cured tuberculosis, as well as among different types of tuberculosis in fresh cycles. RESULTS: In IVF and total patients, the pregnancy (P > 0.05) and live birth rates (P > 0.05) did not differ between tuberculosis and control group. However, in ICSI protocol, the pregnancy (P = 0.027) and live birth rates (P = 0.027) in tuberculosis group were lower than those in controls. The pregnancy rate in fresh cycles for tuberculosis patients was lower than in frozen-thaw cycles in each protocol (P = 0.001). The live birth rate in fresh cycles was higher than in frozen-thaw cycles in IVF patients (P = 0.008) and total patients (P = 0.015), while the live birth rate in fresh cycles was lower in ICSI patients (P = 0.011). The pregnancy rate (P > 0.05) and live birth rate (P > 0.05) among cured patients diagnosed with pelvic tuberculosis demonstrated no significant difference compared to those with pulmonary tuberculosis or other types. CONCLUSIONS: Cured tuberculosis did not affect the primary assisted reproductive outcomes in infertile patients using IVF protocol. However, in ICSI protocol, tuberculosis had a negative impact on pregnancy outcomes in infertile women, even with treatment. The final pregnancy outcome of frozen-thaw cycle was worse than that of fresh cycle in IVF protocol but opposite in ICSI. If treated, there were no variations in pregnancy outcomes among different tuberculosis types.