Outcome of 518 salvage oocyte-cryopreservation cycles performed as a routine procedure in an in vitro fertilization program

Objective To document outcomes of oocyte cryopreservation performed as a routine procedure in an IVF program. Design Describing the rate of oocyte survival, embryo transfer (ET), implantation, and live births of IVF–intracytoplasmic sperm injection performed on thawed oocytes. Setting Reproductive medicine center in Italy. Patient(s) Women (n = 696) who failed to conceive after IVF–intracytoplasmic sperm injection with fresh oocytes. Intervention(s) Surplus oocytes obtained during a failed cycle with fresh oocytes were frozen and then were thawed, micromanipulated, and transferred in a later cycle. Main Outcome Measure(s) Rates of oocyte survival, ETs, implantation, and live births were calculated in the entire cohort and in patients aged ≤38 and >38 years. Result(s) There were 29 pregnancies, for a total implantation rate of 6.3% (95% CI: 4.3, 9.0) per 456 ET cycles. The clinical-pregnancy rate was 19 (4.2%; 95% CI: 2.6, 6.4) of 456 ET cycles, with a take-home-baby rate of 7 (1.5%; 95% CI: 0.7, 3.0) of 456 ET cycles. Conclusion(s) Cryopreservation performed as a routine procedure for so-called salvaging of surplus oocytes is associated with poor implantation rates and with a probability of 1 live birth in 65 ET cycles.