Frozen eggs over IVF for delayed pregnancies

Based on new research frozen eggs seem to be an effectual option than Vitro fertilization for women starting families later in life.

70% of women had a baby who froze eggs when they were below the age of 38 and thawed a minimum of 20 eggs later, according to this study.

Becoming the largest US report of elective fertility preservation outcomes to date it is based on real-life frozen egg thaw outcomes over the course of 15 years

It is also to be noted from the study that a substantial number of women studied gave birth to more than one child through the process of egg preservation bringing the total to 211 who were born from egg freezing according to Fertility and Sterility publication.

According to the statistics assembled from nearly 500 fertility clinics by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in women using fresh eggs or embryos to conceive at the age of 40,  less than 30% receiving in vitro fertilization (IVF) become pregnant which result in less than 20% live baby births.

The researchers say that a higher pregnancy success rate is provided by the egg freezing and thawing process when compared to using fresh embryos through assisted reproductive technology.

Increasing in older age women giving birth

Lead author and fellow in the division of reproductive endocrinology and infertility, within the department of obstetrics and gynecology at NYU Langone, Sarah Druckenmiller, Cascante also said that their findings shed light on the factor that careful screening of embryos to be thawed and implanted resulted in successful births from egg freezing.

Cascante added that a better understanding of the live birth rate from egg freezing for age-related fertility decline is important to patient decision-making.

She also said that their study is based on actual clinical experience which sets it apart from other publications which are basically mathematical modeling with limited data on the chance of births from egg freezing.

The past three decades have seen an increase in the number of US women giving birth at older ages and the trend appears to continue. According to the US Census Bureau, there is a considerable decline in the birth rates for women in their 20s whereas it has increased for women in their late 30s and early 40s. In 2021, the average age at first birth has risen to 30 years old, higher in many metropolitan areas, from 19 years old in 1984.

Being your own egg donor

Between 2005 and 2020, the 543 patients who participated and were studied had 800 egg freezing cycles, 605 egg thaws, and 436 egg transfers were 38 years old, which is older than the optimal age (35 years old or younger) for egg freeze, during the first egg freeze.

It was also found that 39% of women between the ages of 27 and 44, with a majority between 35 and 40 years old were able to have at least one child from frozen eggs which can be compared with age-matched IVF outcomes under that investigation.

A profound rate of 58% live birth was witnessed across all ages from women who thawed more than 20 mature eggs which were unexpected as this group included people who were past their reproductive prime. To add, 14 patients who were between the ages of 41 and 43 successfully had children from their frozen eggs.

The success rate was not affected by the length of egg storage as a 70% live birth rate was achieved for women under 38 years old who had 20 or more mature eggs thawed.

Lower miscarriage and higher live birth rates per transfer resulted from preimplantation genetic screening with embryos from frozen and ultimately thawed eggs. The researchers also state that singleton pregnancies which are relatively safer for both the child and the mother also became possible with such screening as it allows single embryo transfers.

Senior author James A. Grifo, director of the division of reproductive endocrinology and infertility and the Fertility Center says “Our results provide realistic expectations for those considering oocyte preservation and demonstrate that egg freezing technology empowers women with improved reproductive autonomy”.

Griffo also added that the option to be one’s own egg donor is possible at an advanced stage by freezing eggs at a young stage. This will also result in higher success rates in the study as younger patients do more than one cycle after freezing eggs.

Grifo who is also a professor in the obstetrics and gynecology department, informs that the study was limited by a patient number which is why larger studies seem to be underway which will substantially increase the data set ultimately benefiting the patients and model their expected success rates. He further adds that there is also a necessity for more studies from various geographic locations and center types.

The NYU Langone’s clinically successful Egg Freezing and Embryo Banking Program received funding support from The Carolyn and Malcolm Wiener Foundation for the foundational scientific studies.