Embryo yield after in vitro fertilization in women undergoing embryo banking for fertility preservation before chemotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate embryo yield after IVF in patients undergoing embryo banking before chemotherapy.


METHODS
A retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
Hospital-based academic medical center.


METHODS
Thirty-eight women diagnosed with cancer or autoimmune disease presenting for IVF cycles, with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), for embryo cryopreservation before any therapy were compared with 921 presumably fertile women undergoing IVF for male factor infertility from January 2001 through October 2007.


METHODS
Standard IVF or ICSI protocol, embryo freezing, and ET.


METHODS
The number of 2 pronuclear (2PN) embryos created and suitable for cryopreservation or transfer.


RESULTS
No statistically significant differences were observed between preservation and male factor groups for number of embryos, number of oocytes, or amount of gonadotropin needed to stimulate follicular development. Peak serum E(2) levels were significantly lower for women with disease-seeking fertility preservation.


CONCLUSIONS
Women facing chemotherapy as treatment for cancer or systemic autoimmune disease infrequently undergo fertility preservation. If offered this potentially fertility-preserving option, these data suggest equivalent embryo yield compared with women with infertile male partners. Our data report no significant complications in subsequent births in those who sought fertility preservation, which is informative and encouraging for these women and their providers.
Robertson
Audra D
AD
Department of Obstetrics, Division of General Obstetrics, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. arobertson@partners.org
Missmer
Stacey A
SA
Ginsburg
Elizabeth S
ES
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002452:Cell Count; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014021:Tissue Preservation