Comparative study of pregnancy outcomes and success rates in fresh and frozen embryo transfer cycles

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.

2 Resident, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.

3 M.Sc. of Statistics, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.

4 M.Sc. of Counseling in Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.

5 Professor, Department of Biostatistics, School of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.

6 Assistant Professor, Department of Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.

10.22038/ijogi.2024.79412.6073

Abstract

Introduction: Today, although the knowledge about the success rate of assisted reproductive technologies has increased dramatically, but a detailed comparison regarding whether embryo freezing improves the outcomes of embryo transfer cycles has not been done, so the present study was conducted with aim to compare pregnancy outcomes and success rates in fresh and frozen embryo transfer cycles.
Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted during 2020-2022 on 130 infertile couples who were candidates for embryo transfer and referred to Motazedi and Jahad University infertility treatment centers in Kermanshah. The first group included couples with fresh embryo transfer and the second group were couples who were candidates for frozen embryo transfer. Mothers were followed up until birth. The patient and newborn's information was completed in the project questionnaires and statistically analyzed using SPSS software (version 20) and statistical tests such as t-test, Chi-square, or Fisher's exact test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The rate of chemical (p=0.001) and clinical (p=0.033) pregnancy was higher in the frozen embryo transfer group. As the most common pregnancy outcomes, early abortion (p=0.416) in the frozen embryo transfer group and premature birth (p=0.312) and late abortion (p=0.618) was higher in the fresh embryo transfer group. Also, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of neonatal outcomes, including weight (p=0.899), mean height (p=0.283) and IUGR (p=0.917).
Conclusion: Frozen embryo transfer increases the rate of chemical and clinical pregnancy, but it does not have a significant effect on the birth of IUGR neonates and the growth parameters of newborns.

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