Infertility and assisted reproductive technology outcomes in Afro-Caribbean women

• Published in: Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics 2020-07, Vol.37 (7), p.1553-1561
• Main Authors: Wiltshire, Ashley, Ghidei, Luwam, Brayboy, Lynae M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Assisted Reproduction Technologies; Bahamas; Barbados; Bermuda; Birth Rate; Black or African American; Black People; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Gynecology; Human Genetics; Humans; In vitro fertilization; Infertility; Infertility - epidemiology; Infertility - therapy; Live Birth; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Physicians; Pregnancy; Puerto Rico; Questionnaires; Reproductive Medicine; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted - economics; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted - statistics & numerical data; Reproductive technologies; Reproductive technology; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; Statistical analysis; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome; Uterus
• ISSN: 1058-0468; 1573-7330; 1573-7330
• DOI: 10.1007/s10815-020-01826-2

Objective To assess the causes of infertility and artificial reproductive technology (ART) outcomes in women of African descent living in the Caribbean and Bermuda. Design Cross-sectional study composed of a questionnaire administered to providers who care for women undergoing ART in the Caribbean and Bermuda. Material and methods A questionnaire from the Deerfield Institute was adapted to meet the aims of our study with their permission. Eight infertility clinics in the Caribbean and Bermuda were identified. The primary physician at each site was contacted via email and invited to participate in the study. Questionnaires were completed via interview or electronically. Responses were collected in a REDCap database for statistical analysis. Results There were five respondents from Barbados, Bermuda (× 2), Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas. The most commonly reported etiologies of infertility among Afro-Caribbean patients were female-male factor and uterine factor. In vitro fertilization (IVF) combined with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is performed more often than conventional IVF. The cumulative live birth rates (LBR) after ART for those ages ≤ 34, 35–37, 38–42, and > 42 were 52%, 40%, 22%, and 12%, respectively. The cumulative live birth rate was 31.5% for total patients. The factors reported to be most important in hindering patients from cycling were coping emotionally with poor ovarian response and cost. The biggest restraints to infertility care were costs and a lack of local IVF centers on all islands. Conclusion Afro-Caribbean women receiving infertility care in the Caribbean may have better ART outcomes compared to African-American women in the United States (US).