Thalassemia does not significantly affect embryo ploidy outcomes in women undergoing IVF with preimplantation genetic testing

Background: Thalassemia is a common autosomal recessive disorder that may impact reproductive health and embryo development. However, limited information is available regarding the impact of thalassemia carrier status on embryo euploidy, developmental competence, and embryo availability. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects on women with thalassemia by analyzing data from women undergoing IVF with PGT-A. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 2,110 women undergoing IVF with trophectoderm biopsy and PGT-A at Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center Liuzhou Hospital between January 2019 and December 2024. Women were grouped by thalassemia status (955 with thalassemia vs. 1,155 without). Statistical analyses included the use of the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables, Chi-square test for categorical variables, and regression models (Poisson for the number of euploid embryos and linear for the proportion of euploid embryos). Adjustments were made for potential confounders, and statistical significance was set at a two-sided p-value