FROZEN EMBRYOS OUTPERFORM FRESH EMBRYOS IN WOMEN WITH PCOS.

According to a new study, women with the0020polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) who get frozen embryos during IVF have safer and more successful pregnancies than those who receive fresh embryos.

PCOS is a hormonal condition that affects up to 10% of women of reproductive age. When women with PCOS have in vitro fertilisation, they are more likely to develop ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which is a serious consequence.

Pain pills, intravenous fluids, hospitalisation, and additional surgical operations may be required if the situation becomes fatal. Other pregnancy concerns for women with PCOS include pregnancy loss, hypertension (high blood pressure during pregnancy), premature delivery, low birth weight, and birth abnormalities.

Although fresh embryos are recommended for IVF, earlier research has revealed that frozen embryos may improve the rate of live births and reduce the rates of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and pregnancy problems in women with PCOS.

In the latest study, 1,508 infertile women with PCOS were randomly assigned to receive fresh or frozen embryos during their first in vitro fertilisation cycle at multiple reproductive care centres across China. The rate of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome was reduced from 7.1 to 1.3 per cent when frozen embryos were used instead of fresh embryos.

Women who got frozen embryos also had a greater rate of live births and birth weights due to fewer pregnancy losses.

"When you electively freeze all the embryos and do a frozen embryo transfer, women with PCOS may have a higher probability of a healthy pregnancy and may have less ovarian hyperstimulation than if you do a fresh transfer," specialists say.

"Because this treatment could benefit women with PCOS right away, practitioners should consider storing all embryos for these patients."

The use of hormones and drugs to overstimulate the ovaries and cause them to release many eggs during IVF is thought to create a potentially hazardous environment for implantation, particularly in women with PCOS. Frozen embryo transfer provides a woman's ovary time to recuperate from ovarian stimulation during IVF and also allows her exposed endometrial lining to shed.

"By freezing all of the embryos, you establish a healthy environment for the best embryos rather than returning them to a disrupted environment."

Frozen embryo transfer was also linked to a higher probability of two bad outcomes as compared to fresh embryo transfer, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. In the frozen embryo transfer group, preeclampsia and newborn death were more common. However, no individuals experienced severe preeclampsia during pregnancy, and there was no statistically significant change in newborn death rates.

Both negative results should be investigated further.