Newswise — Copenhagen, Denmark:Research presented today at the 39th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) indicates that over 40% of women who made the decision to freeze their eggs in their 30s were successful in conceiving babies later in life when they revisited the fertility clinic [1].
Nevertheless, a significant number of women in the aforementioned study, who had opted for elective oocyte cryopreservation (egg freezing), did not revisit the fertility clinic. Furthermore, among those who did return, a considerable portion opted for alternative fertility treatments that did not utilize their frozen eggs.
Dr. Ezgi Darici, a clinical fellow at the Centre for Reproductive Medicine at Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (Belgium), presented the research. She emphasized the growing trend of women opting for egg freezing as a means to enhance their chances of conceiving later in life. However, she highlighted the scarcity of evidence regarding the effectiveness of this strategy. Dr. Darici noted that their study represents one of the initial and most extensive reports on reproductive outcomes in women who underwent elective oocyte cryopreservation at a European fertility center.
The study encompassed a group of 843 women who opted for elective oocyte cryopreservation for non-medical purposes at the Centre for Reproductive Medicine from 2009 to 2019. On average, these women were 36 years old at the time of the procedure, and a significant portion of them did not have partners. Over time, 231 of these women (27%) revisited the center for further treatment, with an average age of 40 upon their return. Notably, the majority of these women had partners by the time they sought further assistance.
Among the 231 women who returned to the fertility clinic, 110 of them (48%) utilized their frozen eggs as a component of their fertility treatment. Out of these, 50 women (22%) underwent intrauterine insemination, a procedure in which sperm is directly delivered into the womb. Additionally, 71 out of the 231 women (31%) opted for fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF) using fresh eggs. The average age of the women who utilized their frozen eggs was 42, while those who used fresh eggs had an average age of 39.
Out of the total of 231 women included in the study, the cumulative live birth rate, which accounts for all live births resulting from any fertility treatment, was 46%, equivalent to 106 women. Conversely, the miscarriage rate stood at 31%.
Within the group of women who underwent treatment involving their frozen eggs, 41% were able to have babies. Conversely, among those who underwent treatment involving fresh eggs, the success rate was slightly higher at 48%. In terms of miscarriage rates, it was observed that 25% of women who used frozen eggs experienced miscarriages, while the rate was slightly higher at 29% for those who used fresh eggs.
Dr Darici said: “We found that many women who chose to freeze eggs in their 30s had not yet returned for fertility treatment. Among those who did return for treatment, around half used their frozen eggs. These were older women on average. The choice of whether to use fresh or frozen eggs is made based on what treatment is best for each individual woman and factors such as the woman’s age are important. We cannot really compare the two groups as there will be many differences that could underlie any disparity in pregnancy and birth rates. However, women who had frozen their eggs had several options open to them and we found positive rates of pregnancy and birth regardless of whether the women had fertility treatment with fresh or frozen eggs.”
The scientists recognize that the study encompasses a limited sample size, and it adopts a retrospective approach, focusing on events and data from the past.
-Professor Carlos Calhaz-Jorge, the chair of ESHRE, who works at the Northern Lisbon Hospital Centre and the Hospital de Santa Maria in Lisbon (Portugal), was not involved in the conducted research. In response, he stated, "Elective oocyte cryopreservation aims to mitigate the risk of infertility in later life. Nevertheless, this can be a costly decision, and the lack of supporting evidence poses a challenge. While this study suggests the potential benefits of frozen eggs for older women struggling with conception, further extensive research is required to substantiate these findings. Regular reporting on fertility outcomes among women who opt for oocyte cryopreservation would contribute to a more comprehensive understanding. Such data could aid in establishing guidelines for young women contemplating this option."
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