Impact of fresh and frozen-thawed embryo transfer on pregnancy outcomes in elderly women with DOR
10.3760/cma.j.cn101441-20241219-00481
- VernacularTitle:新鲜和冻融胚胎移植对高龄DOR患者助孕结局的影响
- Author:
Jingjing XING
1
;
Zheng WANG
;
Rong LI
;
Li LI
Author Information
1. 北京大学第三医院妇产科生殖医学中心，北京 100191
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Advanced age;
Diminished ovarian reserve;
Fresh embryo transfer;
Frozen-thawed embryo transfer
- From:
Chinese Journal of Reproduction and Contraception
2025;45(6):591-599
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the impact of fresh and frozen-thawed embryo transfer on pregnancy outcomes in patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) at an advanced age.Methods:Using a retrospective cohort study design, we enrolled elderly women with DOR who underwent their first in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment at Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital between January 2018 and December 2022. Patients were grouped according to the cycle type of their first embryo transfer: a fresh cycle transfer group (group A, n=563) and a frozen-thawed cycle transfer group (group B, n=234). Propensity score matching (PSM, 1∶1) was used to match the baseline characteristics and embryo transfer information of the two groups, resulting in 184 patients in each group. The impact of fresh versus frozen-thawed embryo transfer on reproductive outcomes in elderly DOR patients was analyzed. Results:1) There were no statistically significant differences in general data, ovarian stimulation, and laboratory parameters of embryos between the two groups after PSM (all P>0.05). 2) The clinical pregnancy rate [23.91% (44/184)], the implantation rate [16.55% (48/290)], the ongoing pregnancy rate [16.85% (31/184)], and the live birth rate [16.30% (30/184)] in group A were significantly higher than those in group B [14.67% (27/184), P=0.025; 10.27% (30/292), P=0.026; 9.78% (18/184), P=0.046; 9.24% (17/184), P=0.042], with statistically significant differences. There were no statistically significant differences in miscarriage rate, multiple pregnancy rate, preterm birth rate, gestational age at delivery, and neonatal birth weight between the two groups (all P>0.05). 3) After controlling for confounding factors, frozen-thawed embryo transfer, female age, and the number of transferred quality embryos were independent factors influencing clinical pregnancy ( OR=0.486, 95% CI: 0.275-0.858, P=0.013; OR=0.761, 95% CI: 0.686-0.844, P<0.001; transferring one high-quality embryo OR=5.213, 95% CI: 1.501-18.105, P=0.009; transferring two high-quality embryos OR=8.144, 95% CI: 2.072-32.009, P=0.003) and live birth ( OR=0.468, 95% CI: 0.240-0.916, P=0.027; OR=0.733, 95% CI: 0.645-0.834, P<0.001; transferring one high-quality embryo OR=5.457, 95% CI: 1.218-24.448, P=0.027; transferring two high-quality embryos OR=5.900, 95% CI: 1.132-30.754, P=0.035). 4) After controlling for confounding factors, in transfer cycles of patients older than 40 years, the clinical pregnancy rate in group A [14.46% (12/83)] was significantly higher than that in group B [4.88% (4/82)], with a statistically significant difference ( OR=0.285, 95% CI: 0.086-0.946, P=0.040). In single cleavage-stage embryo transfer cycles, the clinical pregnancy rate [21.79% (17/78)] and the live birth rate [16.67% (13/78)] in group A were significantly higher than those in group B [9.21% (7/76), OR=0.311, 95% CI: 0.113-0.857, P=0.024; 6.58% (5/76), OR=0.468, 95% CI: 0.24-0.916, P=0.027], with both statistically significant differences. In cycles with transfer of only one high-quality embryo, the clinical pregnancy rate [27.66% (26/94)] and the live birth rate [20.21% (19/94)] in group A were significantly higher than those in group B [13.54% (13/96), OR=0.347, 95% CI: 0.157-0.765, P=0.009; 10.42% (10/96), OR=0.407, 95% CI: 0.171-0.968, P=0.042], with both statistically significant differences. Conclusion:Fresh cycle embryo transfer can achieve better reproductive outcomes in elderly women with DOR, especially in patients older than 40 years, in single cleavage-stage embryo transfer cycles, or when only one high-quality embryo is available. Fresh cycle embryo transfer should be prioritized in these situations.
