Improved outcomes after blastocyst-stage frozen-thawed embryo transfers compared with cleavage stage: a Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies Clinical Outcomes Reporting System study

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether there is a difference in obstetrical and perinatal outcomes in blastocyst frozen-thawed embryo transfers (FETs) compared with cleavage-stage FET.

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Not applicable.

Patient(s): Women undergoing autologous FETs at either the blastocyst stage (n = 118,572) or the cleavage stage (n = 117,619) reported to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology in the years 2004-2013.

Intervention(s): None.

Main outcome measure(s): Live birth, gestational age, birth weight, miscarriage.

Result(s): After controlling for confounders, there were a 49% increased odds of live birth after blastocyst-stage FET compared with cleavage-stage FET (odds ratio [OR] = 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.44, 1.54). Additionally, blastocyst FET was associated with a 68% (OR = 1.68; 95% CI, 1.63, 1.74) increased odds of clinical pregnancy and an 7% (OR = 0.93; 95% CI, 0.88, 0.92) decreased odds of miscarriage. There was also a 16% increased odds of preterm delivery (OR = 1.16; 95% CI, 1.06, 1.27) after blastocyst FET but no difference in birth weights.

Conclusion(s): In patients undergoing FET, blastocyst-stage transfer is associated with higher live-birth rates when compared with cleavage-stage transfers. Furthermore, perinatal outcomes are similar between the groups.

Keywords: Blastocyst; cleavage; frozen embryo transfer.