Impact of positive hepatitis B surface antigen on the outcome of IVF treatment

Abstract 

There has been controversy about the effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection on pregnancy outcome after IVF treatment. A total of 1676 couples undergoing their first IVF cycle were included in this study. The prevalence of HBV infection in the female partners of the subfertile population seeking treatment with assisted reproductive technology was 7.8–9.6% during the study period. The ongoing pregnancy rate was not significantly different between couples with HBV-seropositive wives and seronegative ones (26.7% versus 30.2%). The ongoing pregnancy rate and the live-birth rate of couples with both partners being HBV surface antigen positive was not significantly different from couples with discordant HBV serostatus and those couples with both partners being HBV surface antigen negative (23% versus 29% versus 30%, respectively; 23% versus 27% versus 27%, respectively). The percentage of normal sperm morphology in HBV-seropositive husbands was significantly lower than that of seronegative counterparts (5.0% versus 10.0%, P=0.009). In conclusion, there was no adverse effect of HBV infection on the assisted reproduction outcomes.

This study was the first report on the live-birth rate of hepatitis B (HBV) seropositive couples, revealing the effect on the pregnancy outcome of IVF. The prevalence of HBV infection in the female partners of subfertile population seeking treatment with ART was 7.8–9.6%. Both the ongoing pregnancy rate and live-birth rate were not significantly different among couples with both partners being positive for HBV surface antigen, couples with discordant HBV serostatus and those couples with both partners being negative for HBV surface antigen. The percentage of normal sperm morphology in HBV-seropositive husbands was significantly lower than that of seronegative counterparts.

Keywords: hepatitis B surface antigen, IVF treatment