Clinical outcome of planned oocyte cryopreservation at advanced age

Abstract

Purpose: To report outcome of planned oocyte cryopreservation (POC) in the first 8 years of this treatment in our center.

Methods: A retrospective study in a university-affiliated medical center.

Results: A total of 446 women underwent POC during 2011-2018. Fifty-seven (13%) women presented to use these oocytes during the study period (until June 2021). POC was performed at a mean age of 37.9 ± 2.0 (range 33-41). Age at thawing was 43.3 ± 2.1 (range 38-49). A total of 34 (60%) women transferred their oocytes for thawing at other units. Oocyte survival after thawing was significantly higher at our center than following shipping to ancillary sites (78 vs. 63%, p = 0.047). Forty-nine women completed their treatment, either depleting their cryopreserved oocytes without conceiving (36) or attaining a live birth (13)-27% live birth rate per woman. Only one of eleven women who cryopreserved oocytes aged 40 and older had a live birth using thawed oocytes.

Conclusion: Women should be advised to complete planned oocyte cryopreservation before age 40, given low success rates in women who underwent cryopreservation at advanced reproductive age. In this study, oocyte shipping was associated with lower survival rate. These findings may be relevant for women considering POC and utilization of cryopreserved oocytes.

Keywords: Advanced maternal age; Age-related infertility; Elective oocyte cryopreservation; Oocyte shipping; Oocyte thawing; Oocyte transportation; Planned oocyte cryopreservation; Social egg freezing.