Comparable clinical outcomes and live births after single vitrified–warmed and fresh blastocyst transfer

Abstract

Selective single-blastocyst transfer (SBT) in fresh cycles has been effective in reducing multiple pregnancies. However, we do not know whether this successful strategy of fresh transfer cycles is suitable for cryopreserved cycles. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the feasibility and value of SBT in vitrified–warmed cycles. Clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) was similar with vitrified and fresh SBT (46.61% versus 52.15% respectively). Of the pregnant patients, monozygotic twin, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy rates were similar with vitrified and fresh SBT. For the newborns, no significant difference was observed in live birth, low birthweight, premature delivery and birth defects rates between vitrified and fresh SBT. With respect to the quality of transferred blastocysts (from BB to AA), a similar CPR and miscarriage rate was obtained for both vitrified and fresh SBT when a similar blastocyst cohort graded ⩾3BB was transferred. The data show that vitrified SBT is an effective means of reducing multiple pregnancy and that comparable clinical outcomes and live births are achieved if single blastocysts graded ⩾3BB are transferred for both vitrified and fresh SBT. These data should encourage clinics to evaluate their embryo transfer policy and adopt vitrified SBT as everyday practice.Selective single-blastocyst transfer in fresh cycles has been an effective method to reduce the multiple pregnancies. However, due to a lack of adequate studies, we do not know whether this successful strategy in fresh transfer cycles is suitable in cryopreserved cycles. The present study was undertaken to explore the feasibility and value of single-blastocyst transfer in vitrified–warmed cycles. We found that single-blastocyst transfer in vitrified–warmed cycles is an effective means of reducing multiple pregnancy, and comparable clinical outcomes and live births were achieved if single blastocysts graded ⩾3BB were transferred for both vitrified–warmed and fresh blastocyst transfer. These data should encourage clinics to evaluate their embryo transfer policy and adopt single-blastocyst transfer in cryopreserved cycles as their everyday practice.