OBJECTIVE: To identify the available assessment instruments for measuring the empowerment of pregnant women and to describe the appraisal content and their psychometric properties.

METHODS: We searched nine bibliographic databases for original studies that focus on the measurement of empowerment in pregnant women. Arksey and O'Malley's methodology and PRISMA-ScR were selected to guide the implementation of this scoping review. The COSMIN criteria was employed to assess the methodological quality and the quality of psychometric properties.

RESULTS: A total of 23 studies were included and 13 instruments were extracted. Given comprehensive considerations, Kameda's prenatal empowerment scale may be deemed suitable. The included instruments comprehensively measured the attributes of empowerment, with a particular focus on facilitating women's choice and decision-making. Except for the four most recent self-designed questionnaires, the remaining instruments had been tested for reliability and/or validity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study included 281 patients, all of them had 2 embryos transferred, 149 patients got pregnant with two gestation sacs and 132 patients did not get pregnant. All of the transferred embryos had the ZP thickness measured several times from time of ICSI till Embryo Transfer (ET), the ooplasm volume was calculated from time of ICSI till two Pronuclei (2PN) fading and the PVS was calculated from the ICSI time till the 2PN fading.

RESULTS: The first characteristic is the change in the average ZP thickness that decreased by 32.7% + 5.3% at 70 h for the implanted embryos (Group 1) versus 23.6% + 4.8% for non-implanted embryos (Group 2) p = 0.000. The second characteristic is the average reduction in the volume of the ooplasm which is 20.5% + 4.3% in Group 1 versus 15.1% + 5.2% in Group 2, p = 0.000. The third characteristic is the increase in the volume of the PVS which was 38.1% + 7.6% in Group 1 versus 31.6% + 9.7% in Group 2 p = 0.000.