Cumulative live birth rate after two single frozen embryo transfers (eSFET) versus a double frozen embryo transfer (DFET) with cleavage stage embryos: a retrospective cohort study

• Published in: Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics Vol. 31; no. 12; pp. 1621 - 1627
• Main Authors: López Regalado, Ma. Luisa, Clavero, Ana, Gonzalvo, M. Carmen, Serrano, María, Martínez, Luis, Mozas, Juan, Rodríguez-Serrano, Fernando, Fontes, Juan, Romero, Bárbara, Castilla, Jose A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.12.2014; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Assisted Reproduction Technologies; Birth Rate; Cleavage Stage, Ovum; Clinical trials; Cohort analysis; Cohort Studies; Cryopreservation; Embryos; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Gynecology; Human Genetics; Humans; Lifetime; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Ovaries; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Pregnancy, Multiple - physiology; Reproductive Medicine; Single Embryo Transfer; Vitrification; Denmark; Spain; Multiple pregnancy rate; Cumulative live birth rate; Elective single frozen embryo transfer; Vitrification
• ISSN: 1058-0468; 1573-7330
• DOI: 10.1007/s10815-014-0346-5

Purpose According to the latest ART report for Europe, about 13 % of pregnancies after frozen embryo transfer are multiple. Our objective was to analyse the impact on the multiple pregnancy rate of two eSFET (elective single frozen embryo transfers) versus a DFET (double frozen embryo transfer) in women aged under 38 years, who had not achieved pregnancy in their fresh transfer and who had at least two vitrified embryos of A/B quality. Methods This study was conducted from January 2010 to June 2013 at a public hospital. The couples were divided into three groups. Group DFET: the first cryotransfer of two embryos (105 women); cSFET group: the only cryotransfer of a single vitrified embryo (60 women); eSFET group, individually vitrified embryos: 20 patients included in a clinical trial of single-embryo fresh and frozen transfer and 21 patients who chose to receive eSFET. Results The clinical pregnancy rate was 38.1 % in the DET group and the cumulative clinical pregnancy rate was 43.3 % in the eSFET group. There were no significant differences between the DFET and eSFET groups (30.0 vs 34.1 %) in cumulative live birth delivery rate. The rate of multiple pregnancies varied significantly between the DFET and eSFET groups (32.5 vs 0 %, p  < 0.05). Conclusions For good-prognosis women aged under 38 years, taking embryo quality as a criterion for inclusion, an eSFET policy can be applied, achieving acceptable cumulative clinical pregnancy and live birth rates and reducing multiple pregnancy rates.