Birth prevalence of genital anomalies among males conceived by intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles: A cross-sectional study

Background: Several studies have been conducted worldwide to evaluate the prevalence and relative risks of congenital anomalies associated with assisted reproductive technology cycles; however, there is limited data in Iran. Objective: To investigate male genital anomalies among live births from assisted reproductive technology. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on children born after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) at Royan Institute, Tehran, Iran from April ۲۰۱۳-December ۲۰۱۵. The prevalence of male genitalia disorders that included hypospadias, epispadias, cryptorchidism, micropenis, and vanishing testis were reported. The relationship between the cause of infertility and type of embryo transfer (fresh or frozen), gestational age at birth (term or preterm), and birth weight with these male genitalia anomalies were evaluated. Results: In total, ۴۴۰۹ pregnant women were followed after their ICSI cycles to evaluate genitalia anomalies in their children. Out of ۵۶۰۸ live births, ۲۶۱۴ (۴۶.۶۱%) newborns were male, of which ۱۴ cases (۰.۵۴%) had genital anomalies. The prevalence of various anomalies were cryptorchidism (۰.۳۴%), hypospadias (۰.۰۳۸%), micropenis (۰.۰۳۸%), vanishing testis (۰.۰۳۸%), and epispadias (۰.۰۷۷%). No relationship was found between the cause of infertility, type of embryo transfer (fresh or frozen), gestational age at birth (term or preterm), and male genital malformation (p = ۰.۳۳, p = ۰.۶۶, and p = ۰.۶۲, respectively). Conclusion: The prevalence of each male genital anomaly after the ICSI cycle was rare and less than ۰.۵%; however, no significant infertility-related factor was observed with these anomalies.