Outcomes of day 3 embryo transfer with vitrification using Cryoleaf: a 3-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare success rates of vitrified-warmed with fresh and frozen-thawed ETs

DESIGN: Retrospective.

SETTING: Public fertility center.

PATIENT(S): Cryopreserved- thawed/warmed ETs were included in this study. Fresh cycles, in which supernumerary embryos were cryopreserved, were set as the fresh control group.

INTERVENTION(S): Supernumerary day 3 embryos were cryopreserved by slow-freezing or vitrification and transferred after thawing or warming.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Comparison of two cryopreservation techniques with respect to post-thaw survival of embryos, implantation and pregnancy rates, neonatal outcome, and congenital birth defects.

RESULTS: A total of 962 fresh, 151 freezing-thawed and 300 vitrified-warmed cycles were included in this study. The survival and intact cell rates in the vitrification group were significantly higher compared with those in the slow freezing group (88.5 % vs 74.5 % and 86.6 % vs 64.0 %). The implantation, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates of the vitrification group were similar to the fresh and significant higher than slow freezing group. There were no significant differences in mean gestational age, birth weight, stillbirth, birth defects and the prevalence of neonatal diseases among three groups.

CONCLUSION: Vitrified-warmed ETs yield comparable outcomes with fresh ETs and is superior to frozen-thawed ETs regarding the survival rate and clinical outcomes.