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Frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles in China: clinical outcomes of two and three multicellular embryos transfers

  • ASSISTED REPRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES
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Abstract

Purpose

To analyze the clinical outcomes of frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles when two or three multicellular embryos were transferred in Chinese women.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted to analyze 980 FET cycles performed between January 2007 and October 2010. Two (785 cycles) or three (195 cycles) multicellular embryos were transferred.

Results

Both in patients under 35 years (n = 776) and those aged 35 to 39 years (n = 169), the transfer of two versus three multicellular embryos results in similar clinical pregnancy rates (CPR), implantation rates (IR) and live birth rates (LBR). In both age groups, the multiple pregnancy rate (MPR) was significantly higher in the three-embryo groups. Among women over 40 years of age (n = 35), there were no differences in the CPR, IR, MBR or LBR between the two groups

Conclusions

Transferring two instead of three multicellular embryos in patients under 40 years old significantly decreases the risk of MPR without compromising PR, IR and LBR. In the age group above 40, transferring two instead of three multicellular embryos did not decrease PR, IR, MBR or LBR. Transferring more embryos when a patient had more unsuccessful cycles was not warranted in all patients.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Grants from Shanghai Science and Technology Developmental Foundations (Grant number: 09ZR1419000 and 10JC1410800)

Conflict of interest

No conflict of interest exits in the submission of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Reproductive Medical Center, Ruijin Hospital, Medical School of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China

    Yijuan Sun, Yun Feng, Aijun Zhang, Xiaowei Lu, Zhihong Niu & Ruihuan Gu

Authors
  1. Yijuan Sun
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  2. Yun Feng
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  3. Aijun Zhang
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  4. Xiaowei Lu
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  5. Zhihong Niu
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  6. Ruihuan Gu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yun Feng.

Additional information

Capsule

Transferring two instead of three multicellular embryos in FET cycles improved clinical outcome regardless patients' age and the number of previous unsuccessful cycles.

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Sun, Y., Feng, Y., Zhang, A. et al. Frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles in China: clinical outcomes of two and three multicellular embryos transfers. J Assist Reprod Genet 29, 417–421 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-012-9731-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-012-9731-0

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