Ambient temperature reduces oocyte yield in assisted reproductive technology via a partially sex hormone-mediated pathway

The study investigates whether higher ambient temperatures before oocyte retrieval negatively affect oocyte yield in women undergoing their first IVF or ICSI cycle. The findings indicate that each 1°C increase in apparent temperature is associated with a significant decrease in total and mature oocytes retrieved, with luteinizing hormone (LH) partially mediating this effect, while compensatory increases in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) were also observed. These results highlight ambient temperature as a modifiable environmental risk factor for oocyte yield in assisted reproductive technology.