Which is Better for Mothers and Babies: Fresh or Frozen-thawed Blastocyst Transfer?

Overview

Journal BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Gynecology & Obstetrics

Date 2020 Sep 24

PMID 32967652

Citations 8

Authors

Meiling Yang

Li Lin

Chunli Sha

Taoqiong Li

Wujiang Gao

Lu Chen

Ying Wu

Yanping Ma

Xiaolan Zhu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: In recent years, there have been many reports on the pregnancy outcomes of fresh blastocyst transfer (BT) and frozen-thawed BT, but the conclusions are controversial and incomplete. To compare the pregnancy outcomes, maternal complications and neonatal outcomes of fresh and frozen-thawed BT in the context of in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) cycles, we conducted a meta-analysis.

Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted by searching the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases through May 2020. Data were extracted independently by two authors.

Results: Fifty-four studies, including 12 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), met the inclusion criteria. Fresh BT was associated with a lower implantation rate, pregnancy rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, and clinical pregnancy rate and higher ectopic pregnancy rate than frozen-thawed BT according to the results of the RCTs. The risks of moderate or severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, placental abruption, placenta previa and preterm delivery were higher for fresh BT than for frozen-thawed BT. The risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension and pre-eclampsia was lower for fresh BT; however, no significant differences in risks for gestational diabetes mellitus and preterm rupture of membrane were found between the two groups. Compared with frozen-thawed BT, fresh BT appears to be associated with small for gestational age and low birth weight. No differences in the incidences of neonatal mortality or neonatal malformation were observed between fresh and frozen-thawed BT.

Conclusions: At present there is an overall slight preponderance of risks in fresh cycles against frozen, however individualization is required and current knowledge does not permit to address a defintive response.

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Fresh versus Frozen Embryo Transfer in In Vitro Fertilization/Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Cycles: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Neonatal Outcomes.

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Influence of maternal age on the birthweight of infants delivered from frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer cycles.

Wang X, Xiao Y, Tao T, Xiong W Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023; 14:1195256.

PMID: 37497353 PMC: 10368368. DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1195256.

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