Hey there! So, let’s chat about some exciting advancements in the world of fertility, especially when it comes to embryo transfer. With the shift toward Day 5 embryo culture and elective single embryo transfer (eSET), many folks are finding themselves with a bunch of extra frozen blastocysts. Thanks to a nifty freezing technique called vitrification, we’re seeing better outcomes, including higher survival and pregnancy rates.
At our center, we offer the option to biopsy Day 5 embryos to check their genetic health before transferring them in a frozen embryo transfer (FET). This biopsy provides a comprehensive chromosome screening (CCS), helping us identify which embryos are chromosomally normal (euploid) and ready for transfer. The combo of CCS and eSET during FET has shown improved implantation and pregnancy rates while minimizing the chances of multiple births.
Recently, patients who had extra embryos frozen between 2008 and 2013 have been interested in having their frozen embryos undergo CCS before their next FET cycle. This study aimed to assess the clinical pregnancy and implantation rates from patients with CCS performed on previously vitrified blastocysts (W-CCS).
In 2013, we had 17 cases where blastocyst embryos were thawed, biopsied, and then re-vitrified. Of those, a whopping 87% were successfully biopsied and re-frozen. Out of the biopsied blastocysts, 67% were euploid while 33% were aneuploid (meaning they had chromosomal abnormalities). We then proceeded with 13 FETs, with four cases still pending. In those 13 transfers, we re-warmed and transferred 15 blastocysts—11 through eSET and 2 through double embryo transfers. The results? A 62% clinical pregnancy rate and a 60% implantation rate, which are very much in line with our broader clinic rates from 2012 using standard CCS on fresh blastocysts.
What does all this data tell us? It shows that CCS can effectively be applied to previously vitrified blastocysts (W-CCS) with promising clinical outcomes. Transferring chromosomally normal blastocysts screened after W-CCS yields pregnancy and implantation rates similar to those seen with fresh blastocysts. Plus, knowing the chromosome status of frozen embryos is invaluable for both clinicians and patients when making decisions about embryo transfers and what to do with the embryos.
If you’re interested in more about the journey of infertility and the emotional ups and downs, you might want to check out this post on how struggles with infertility can shape parenting aspirations. For those considering at-home options, resources like this artificial insemination kit can provide great insights. Don’t forget, there are also excellent resources available on pregnancy and home insemination that can help guide your journey.
In summary, advancements in embryo freezing and genetic screening are paving the way for better outcomes in fertility treatments. Understanding embryo health can significantly impact the choices couples make in their journey toward parenthood.