Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40217240›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

Environmental pollution and human fertility: investigating the relationship between PM2.5 exposure and assisted reproductive technology outcomes.

Fei Li, Xiaoyan Duan, Mingming Li, Yumei Gao, Yuejuan Kang, WenJun Zheng, XueYan Guo, Ying Chen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Fei LiCenter for Reproductive Medicine, Clinical College, The First People'S Hospital of Shangqiu, Xinxiang Medical University, 292 Kaixuan South Road, Shangqiu, Henan, China.
Xiaoyan DuanCenter for Reproductive Medicine, Clinical College, The First People'S Hospital of Shangqiu, Xinxiang Medical University, 292 Kaixuan South Road, Shangqiu, Henan, China.
Mingming LiZhengzhou University, Henan, China.
Yumei GaoCenter for Reproductive Medicine, Clinical College, The First People'S Hospital of Shangqiu, Xinxiang Medical University, 292 Kaixuan South Road, Shangqiu, Henan, China.
Yuejuan KangCenter for Reproductive Medicine, Clinical College, The First People'S Hospital of Shangqiu, Xinxiang Medical University, 292 Kaixuan South Road, Shangqiu, Henan, China.
WenJun ZhengCenter for Reproductive Medicine, Clinical College, The First People'S Hospital of Shangqiu, Xinxiang Medical University, 292 Kaixuan South Road, Shangqiu, Henan, China.
XueYan GuoCenter for Reproductive Medicine, Clinical College, The First People'S Hospital of Shangqiu, Xinxiang Medical University, 292 Kaixuan South Road, Shangqiu, Henan, China.
Ying ChenCenter for Reproductive Medicine, Clinical College, The First People'S Hospital of Shangqiu, Xinxiang Medical University, 292 Kaixuan South Road, Shangqiu, Henan, China. cici1873680@163.com.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China U1904165the Key Science and Technology Foundation of Henan Province LHGJ20240822
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo investigate the impact of seasonal variations in particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 µm or less (PM2.5) exposure on assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes.

methodsThis retrospective study, conducted at the First People's Hospital of Shangqiu, analyzed data from 13,476 patients who underwent ART procedures between February 2018 and December 2022. Patients were categorized based on seasonal PM2.5 exposure levels. A generalized additive model (GAM), linear regression analysis, and multivariate logistic regression were used to assess the relationship between PM2.5 exposure and ART outcomes, including oocyte and embryo quality, pregnancy rates, live birth rates, and miscarriage rates.

resultsSignificant differences were observed in oocyte number, metaphase II (MII) oocyte number, transferable embryos, and good-quality embryos across seasonal PM2.5 exposure subgroups. Pregnancy rates and live birth rates also demonstrated statistically significant variations. Linear regression analysis revealed a consistent negative correlation between PM2.5 concentrations and key ART outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis, adjusting for age and seasonal variations, confirmed a significant negative association between PM2.5 exposure and both pregnancy rates (OR = 0.995, 95% CI: 0.994-0.996, p < 0.001) and live birth rates (OR = 0.996, 95% CI: 0.995-0.997, p < 0.001). However, no significant relationship was found between PM2.5 exposure and miscarriage rates. GAM analysis further identified a nonlinear, threshold-like association between pregnancy outcomes and predictive factors, with significantly higher live birth rates observed in spring, summer, and autumn compared to winter.

conclusionsThe study complements existing evidence that exposure to PM2.5 can lead to decreased success rates of pregnancy and live births, as well as significantly impact the outcomes of ART. Future research should focus on developing strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of environmental pollution on ART success rates.

Indexed as

Environmental ExposureEnvironmental PollutionFertilityParticulate MatterReproductive Techniques, AssistedAdultAir PollutionChinaFemaleHumansPregnancyPregnancy OutcomePregnancy RateRetrospective StudiesSeasonsParticulate MatterAssisted Reproductive TechnologyEnvironmental factorsLive birthPM2.5 exposurePregnancy ratesSeasonal variations

Identifiers

PMID40217240
PMCPMC11987471

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.