Abstract:

Objective·To investigate the bisphenol A (BPA) level in serum and follicular fluid from patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and its association with pregnancy outcomes. Methods·Serum and follicular fluid from 138 patients undergoing IVF-ET in Renji Hospital affiliated to the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine between January 2014 and December 2015 were collected on ovum harvest day. BPA levels in serum and follicular fluid were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method. The association between serum and follicular fluid BPA levels, and BPA levels and pregnancy outcomes were analyzed. Results·Of 138 patients, BPA was detected in serum and follicular fluid from 60 patients with average serum and follicular fluid BPA levels of 14.8 ng/ml and 5.2 ng/mL. The difference was statistically significant (P=0.000). BPA levels in serum and follicular fluid were positively correlated (r=0.51, P=0.000). Of 138 patients, 59 underwent clinical transplantation and 31 (52.5%) of them were pregnant. Among these 31 patients, BPA was detected in 7 patients and was not detected in 24 cases. Patients without detection of BPA had a significantly higher pregnancy rate (77.4%) than patients with detection of BPA (22.6%). Pregnant patients had a lower follicular fluid BPA level (4.6 ng/mL) than patients failed to pregnancy (10.7 ng/mL) and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.015). Pregnant patients had a lower serum BPA level (5.9 ng/mL) than patients failed to pregnancy (16.7 ng/mL) and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.005). There was no significant difference in infertility age between patients with and without detection of BPA in serum or follicular fluid. The average age of patients with detection of BPA was older than that of patients without detection of BPA, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion·BPA can be detected in serum and follicular fluid of some patients undergoing IVF-ET. The detection rate increases with the age. The serum BPA level can predict the follicular fluid BPA level. High serum BPA level may affect embryo implantation.

Key words: bisphenol A, in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer, serum, follicular fluid, pregnancy rate