title: Effect of embryo freezing on perinatal outcome after assisted reproduction techniques: lessons from the Latin American Registry of Assisted Reproduction.
abstract: Embryo cryopreservation is an integral part of assisted reproduction techniques; it allows the sequential transfer of all embryos, thus diminishing the risk of multiple pregnancies and associated perinatal complications. To address concerns about the safety of this procedure, neonatal outcome after 43,070 fresh embryo transfers was compared with 12,068 frozen-thawed embryo transfers (FET). After adjusting for maternal age, gestational age, embryo development at time of transfer, number of babies born and gestational order, FET was not found to be associated with an increase in perinatal mortality (odds ratio [OR] 1.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.81 to 3.62); preterm birth (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.18); or extreme preterm birth (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.06). Furthermore, after correcting for known confounding factors, FET was found to be associated with an increase in neonatal weight of 39.7 g (95% CI 1.54 to 64.10; P < 0.0001). Embryo cryopreservation was, therefore, not associated with an increase in the risk of poor perinatal outcome.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Reproductive Medicine, Clinica Monteblanco, Chile. Electronic address: jeschwarze@mac.com.
authors.forename: Juan-Enrique
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Schwarze
authors.affiliation: Unit of Reproductive Medicina Unit, Clinica Las Condes, Chile.
authors.forename: Javier A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Crosby
authors.affiliation: Unit of Reproductive Medicina Unit, Clinica Las Condes, Chile; Program of Ethics and Public Policies in Human Reproduction, University Diego Portales, Chile.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zegers-Hochschild
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012042:Registries; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted
keywords: assisted reproduction techniques; embryo cryopreservation; neonatal outcome; perinatal mortality; preterm birth