title: A fresh look at the freeze-all protocol: a SWOT analysis.
abstract: The 'freeze-all' strategy with the segmentation of IVF treatment, namely with the use of a GnRH antagonist protocol, GnRH agonist triggering, the elective cryopreservation of all embryos by vitrification and a frozen-thawed embryo transfer in a subsequent cycle, has become more popular. However, the approach still encounters drawbacks. In this opinion paper, a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis sheds light on the different aspects of this strategy.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, UZ Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Jette, Belgium christophe.blockeel@uzbrussel.be.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blockeel
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, UZ Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Jette, Belgium.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Drakopoulos
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, UZ Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Jette, Belgium.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Santos-Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, UZ Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Jette, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nikolaos P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Polyzos
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, UZ Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Jette, Belgium.
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tournaye
mesh_terms: D001723:Birth Rate; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
keywords: GnRH agonist trigger; GnRH antagonist; IVF; embryo cryopreservation; freeze-all; ovarian stimulation; vitrification