In vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques are less likely to succeed when using frozen eggs, researchers claim.
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Dr. Kutluk Oktay |
In in vitro fertilization, eggs are fertilized by sperm outside the body, and the resulting embryos are implanted into the mother’s uterus. These eggs can be either “fresh” or have been cryopreserved for some time. The freezing technique is often used for women diagnosed with certain types of cancer or other medical conditions, and the ovaries need to be preserved before undergoing harmful treatment methods.
Nearly two decades have passed since the first frozen eggs were used for in vitro fertilization, yet the effectiveness of this method compared to using fresh eggs remains unclear, commented Dr. Kutluk Oktay and his colleagues from Weill Cornell Medicine, New York.
The research team conducted a data analysis from 26 studies published between January 1997 and June 2005, investigating the outcomes of in vitro fertilization using frozen eggs. These findings were then compared to results from a research group that used fresh eggs during the years 2002-2003.
The results indicated that the chance of a fertilized egg becoming a live birth was 6.6% when using fresh eggs. In contrast, this rate appeared to be lower for frozen eggs, at only 3.4%.
For each successfully implanted embryo, the live birth rate was 21% for frozen eggs compared to 60% for fresh eggs.
Using frozen eggs for in vitro fertilization “seems to be a lifesaving solution for preserving fertility” in women who will undergo radiation or chemotherapy—techniques that can destroy egg production capabilities—the authors concluded. However, “the value of this method for non-urgent applications needs to be reevaluated.”
T. An
