June 24, 2019

expert reaction to abstract on ivf success rates from freeze-all compared to fresh embryo transfers

Research presented in an abstract presented at the 35th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE)* demonstrates that the trend for fertility clinics to freeze all IVF embryos for later transfer offers no improvement in delivery rates over traditional ‘fresh’ embryo transfers.

A spokesperson for the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority, the UK fertility regulator, said:

“Fertility treatment has come a long way and is getting more successful and safer than ever. Our most recent figures show that the use of frozen embryos has gone up by 11% since 2016, which indicates an increased uptake in freeze cycles.

“Frozen cycles success rates at 23% have overtaken fresh embryo cycles success rates (22%) for the first time since records began, meaning that patients can be reassured that freezing embryos can give them as much chance of success as fresh cycles.”

The abstract, ‘Freeze-all versus fresh embryo transfer in ART: A multicenter randomized controlled trial in normo-ovulatory women’ by Dr Sacha Stormlund et al. was presented at the 35th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) on Monday 24^th June.

Declared interests

None received.