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Utilization rates and results of long-term embryo cryopreservation before gonadotoxic treatment

  • Fertility Preservation
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term embryo cryopreservation, utilization, and success rate in patients subjected to gonadotoxic treatments in the context of cancer.

Methods

This is a retrospective study on patients (n = 54) undergoing ovarian stimulation and IVF for fertility preservation between January 1997 and June 2014. Embryos were slow-frozen and stored until the women were cured and able to undergo embryo transfer.

Results

Fifty-four women underwent 66 oocyte pick-up procedures in total, and embryos were obtained from 52 of the 54 patients. Four patients died before their frozen embryos could be thawed. Of the remaining 48, 9 women returned to use their embryos, resulting in 6 pregnancies (66 % cumulative pregnancy rate), two of which ended in miscarriage. The live birth rate per patient was thus 44 % (4/9). The true come-back rate, calculated after applicable exclusions, was found to be 23 %.

Conclusion

IVF followed by embryo freezing is a widely established technique for fertility preservation, but little has been published on the outcomes in cancer patients. While we found the number of good-quality embryos to be lower than in a normal population, the cumulative live birth rate was similar to that achieved with fresh embryos in non-cancer patients. The utilization rate of this fertility preservation method can be considered high.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC) and Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Gynecology Department, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Mounier 52 bte B1.52.02, B-1200, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Brussels, Belgium

    M. M. Dolmans, S. Hollanders de Ouderaen & C. Pirard

  2. IVF Unit, Gynecology Department, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, 1200, Brussels, Belgium

    D. Demylle

Authors
  1. M. M. Dolmans
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  2. S. Hollanders de Ouderaen
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  3. D. Demylle
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  4. C. Pirard
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. M. Dolmans.

Additional information

Capsule

Utilization rates and pregnancy outcomes of embryos cryopreserved for fertility preservation before gonadotoxic treatments are high.

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Dolmans, M.M., Hollanders de Ouderaen, S., Demylle, D. et al. Utilization rates and results of long-term embryo cryopreservation before gonadotoxic treatment. J Assist Reprod Genet 32, 1233–1237 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-015-0533-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-015-0533-z

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