In a nutshell
This study investigated if the long-term development of children is affected by the type of embryo transfer (ET). They found that there were similar outcomes with fresh (fr) and frozen (fz) ET.
Some background
Assisted reproduction (AR) is used to treat infertility. It has become more common in recent years. There are a number of steps involved in AR. The final step is to transfer fertilized embryos to the uterus. Embryo transfer (ET) can be performed with fresh (fr) or frozen (fz) embryos.
Pregnancy outcomes with frET or fzET have been debated. Many studies have been performed to determine which strategy is better. Some studies suggest pregnancy outcomes including live birth rate (LBR) are higher with fzET. All studies have focused on pregnancy outcomes. None have investigated the long-term effects on child development. It is unclear if the type of ET has an effect on the long-term development of the child.
Methods & findings
This study included 391 couples with infertility. All underwent controlled ovarian stimulation (COS). In vitro fertilization (IVF) was performed to fertilize the egg. Women were randomly assigned to frET or fzET. All parents of live babies were contacted to complete questionnaires. These were standard assessments for child development.
The average age of a child in the study was 37 months. There were no differences in height or weight between the groups. Problem-solving skills were higher in the fzET group. Fine motor skills slightly higher in the fzET group and in twins, but not in singletons. The number of children with abnormal development was low in both groups.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that there were similar outcomes with frET and fzET regarding the development of children born after IVF.
The fine print
Parents completed the questionnaires. Children were not examined by clinicians. This could lead to biased results. Independent assessments should be performed in subsequent studies.
What’s next?
If you have any concerns regarding infertility please consult with your doctor.
Published By :
Fertility and Sterility
Date :
Jun 16, 2020
