BP and Live Birth Rate in Fresh Embryo Transfer
A new study found that a freeze-all strategy, which involves elective freezing all embryos, does not result in a higher chance of pregnancy than fresh embryo transfer. This suggests that a freeze-all strategy should be avoided for all women undergoing assisted reproductive technology treatment.
While frozen embryo transfer (FET) has become a common option in reproductive medicine, the effectiveness of FET for improving pregnancy rates remains controversial. This study sought to fill the evidence gap by comparing the outcomes of frozen and fresh embryo transfers in ovulatory women.
Infertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) have become increasingly popular over the last decade. They have been shown to be successful in many cases, although they are not always a sure-fire way to get pregnant.
During the transfer, a catheter-like tube is passed through the woman's cervix and into her uterus to transport the embryo. This is done quickly and usually while she's awake. During this process, an abdominal ultrasound is also performed to ensure that the embryo is correctly placed in the uterus.
The live birth rate after fresh embryo transfer varies between studies, but it is generally higher than after frozen embryo transfer. However, a new study published today in The BMJ finds that freezing embryos for later transfer as part of assisted reproductive technology does not result in a higher chance of pregnancy compared with fresh embryo transfer.
While the freeze-all strategy has been widely adopted and applied, it is not clear whether this approach increases pregnancy rates in young women. Therefore, a clinical trial comparing the live birth rate after frozen embryo transfer with that after fresh embryo transfer is necessary.
A recent study has found that transferring frozen embryos during IVF can increase the risk of high blood pressure, or hypertension, in women. The researchers analyzed data on more than 4.5 million pregnancies, across three European nations.
To further evaluate the relationship between BP and live birth rate, the authors compared data from five previous studies with those from two other recent studies. They also analyzed data from the Danish Reproductive Outcomes Database and from the National Registry for Human Reproduction in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
During this meta-analysis, the researchers analyzed current data on single-embryo transfer (SET) versus double-embryo transfer (DET). They compared clinical outcomes and live birth rates including implantation, ongoing pregnancy and twin pregnancies.
The live birth rates were lower after SET and DET, respectively. The implantation rate was similar in the groups, but the ongoing pregnancy and twin PR were lower after SET. These findings suggest that SET should be avoided if possible in fresh cycles in order to achieve acceptable pregnancy and live birth rates.
In addition, a single-embryo transfer can be associated with a higher risk of developing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OVAS), a painful response to hormones used to stimulate egg development. This condition can cause severe fibroid formation, premature ovarian failure, and miscarriage.
Because of the risks associated with OVAS, some IVF centers are recommending that frozen embryos be transferred only in select situations, such as when a patient's age is below 35 years or if she has a high risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Despite these precautions, the live birth rate for frozen embryo transfers is still quite low.
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