Abstract
Research question
The study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the impact of cryo-storage duration on
clinical, obstetric and perinatal outcomes after vitrified-warmed euploid blastocyst
transfer.
Design
This was an observational study including 2688 vitrified-warmed euploid single blastocyst
transfers that was conducted at a private IVF centre between May 2013 and March 2020.
It included a total of 1884 women (age 38 ± 3 years) undergoing at least one transfer
after preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies. The euploid blastocysts transferred
were clustered into seven groups according to the cryo-storage duration between vitrification
and warming: ≤60 days (n = 646; control group), 61–90 days (n = 599), 91–180 days (n = 679), 181–360 days (n = 405), 361–720 days (n = 144), 721–1080 days (n = 118) and >1080 days (n = 97). The primary outcome was the live birth rate (LBR) per transfer. The secondary
outcomes were miscarriage rate, obstetric and perinatal issues. The data were adjusted
for confounders through logistic or linear regressions.
Results
A significantly lower LBR was reported for transfers performed within 91–180 days
(n = 291/679, 42.9%; P = 0.017), 181–360 days (n = 169/405, 41.7%; P = 0.016) and 361–720 days (n = 57/144, 39.6%; P = 0.034) versus ≤60 days (n = 319/646, 49.4%). However, this was mainly due to top-quality embryos being transferred
first when more euploid blastocysts were available, thereby leaving lower quality
ones for subsequent procedures. Indeed, the multivariate odds ratios adjusted for
confounders showed similar results across all cryo-storage duration clusters. No difference
was reported also for all secondary outcomes.
Conclusions
Cryo-storage duration even beyond 3 years from blastocyst vitrification does not affect
clinical, obstetric and perinatal outcomes.
Keywords
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Biography
Danilo Cimadomo, MSc, PhD, is a molecular biologist, Science and Research Manager of GeneraLife IVF, a member of the Executive Committee of SIERR, and Basic Science Officer of the ESHRE special interest group on Implantation and Early Pregnancy. He has authored more than 70 peer-reviewed manuscripts concerning embryology, embryo selection and PGT.
Key message
Cryo-storage duration from vitrification to warming does not affect clinical, obstetric and perinatal outcomes when euploid blastocysts are transferred. Any slight reduction is mainly ascribable to top-quality embryos being transferred earlier in patients of a better prognosis. The length of cryo-storage duration should not influence any clinical choice in IVF.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 07, 2021
Accepted:
September 26,
2021
Received in revised form:
August 24,
2021
Received:
April 7,
2021
Declaration: The authors report no financial or commercial conflicts of interest.Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
