title: Effect of coasting on the implantation potential of embryos transferred after cryopreservation and thawing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of withholding gonadotropins on the outcome of embryos after cryopreservation and thawing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective clinical evaluation of patients having cryopreserved-thawed ET trials with coasting during the corresponding ovarian stimulation cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic tertiary clinical care unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with cryopreserved embryos having coasting in their fresh IVF cycle and age-matched controls without coasting, both groups receiving the same stimulation protocol (long GnRH agonist plus recombinant FSH).
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients had a cycle in which embryos were transferred fresh and a cycle of thawing of cryopreserved embryos with the aim of transferring in a steroid-supplemented cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Embryo survival, implantation, and clinical pregnancy rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Post-thawing embryo survival (66.4% vs. 73%), implantation (12.3% vs. 13.0%), and clinical pregnancy rates (31.5% vs. 38.0%) were similar in study and control groups, respectively. Patients with coasting for > or =3 days had significantly lower post-thawing embryo survival rates compared with patients having shorter duration of coasting (<3 days) and controls. Implantation and pregnancy rates, however, were similar in the three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Coasting did not seem to have a detrimental effect on oocyte and embryo quality because the implantation competence of transferred concept after cryopreservation and thawing was similar to that of controls. However, prolonged coasting (> or =3 days) had a subtle negative impact on the post-thaw survival rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Silvina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bocca
authors.forename: Estella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Laurel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stadtmauer
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oehninger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006062:Gonadotropins