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Frozen–thawed blastocyst transfer in natural cycle: feasibility in everyday clinical practice

  • Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Transfer of frozen–thawed embryos in natural cycle is gaining consensus but evidence on this approach is scanty. The aim of this study is reporting on the feasibility of this type of policy in everyday clinical practice.

Methods

We retrospectively selected all women undergoing the procedure between July 2013 and December 2014. During the study period, women were systematically scheduled for natural cycle if they referred regular menstrual cycles. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was conversely prescribed if the woman had irregular menstrual cycles or if the monitoring of the natural cycle failed. The analysis exclusively focussed on the first cycle per woman.

Results

Overall, 251 women were selected. HRT was initially chosen in 52 women, leaving 199 women suitable for the natural cycle. This procedure could be performed in 194 of these women (97%, 95% CI 95–99%). Two additional women initially allocated to HRT ultimately performed the blastocyst transfer with natural cycle. Overall, 196 were thus treated with natural cycle (78%, 95% CI 73–83%). The basal characteristics of the women who did and did not undergo natural cycles were similar with the exceptions of serum FSH (p < 0.001) and AMH (p = 0.03). The live birth rate did not also differ (34% versus 31%, p = 0.63). Characteristics of women treated with the natural cycle who did (n = 67) and did not (n = 129) achieve a live birth did not differ.

Conclusion

Frozen–thawed blastocyst transfer in natural cycle can be successfully performed in the vast majority of women.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Infertility Unit, Fondazione Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Fanti 6, 20122, Milan, Italy

    Lucia Cardellicchio, Marco Reschini, Alessio Paffoni, Cristina Guarneri, Liliana Restelli, Edgardo Somigliana & Walter Vegetti

  2. Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy

    Lucia Cardellicchio & Edgardo Somigliana

Authors
  1. Lucia Cardellicchio
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  2. Marco Reschini
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  3. Alessio Paffoni
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  4. Cristina Guarneri
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  5. Liliana Restelli
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  6. Edgardo Somigliana
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  7. Walter Vegetti
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Contributions

LC: data collection and manuscript writing; M.R: data analysis; AP: data analysis; CG: data collection; LR: manuscript writing; ES: manuscript writing; WV: project development and manuscript editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marco Reschini.

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Funding

There was no study funding.

Conflict of interest

The Authors declare that we have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments.

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Cardellicchio, L., Reschini, M., Paffoni, A. et al. Frozen–thawed blastocyst transfer in natural cycle: feasibility in everyday clinical practice. Arch Gynecol Obstet 295, 1509–1514 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-017-4383-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-017-4383-z

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