A new study suggests freeze-all IVF cycles have higher pregnancy rates in women over 35

Considering IVF at Texas Fertility Center? If so, you should know about a new study that involved freeze-all IVF cycles. A large study of more than 16,000 IVF cycles at 12 fertility centers suggests that a freeze-all approach can lead to higher rates of pregnancy in women over 35. Our Austin fertility center team is here to explain everything you need to know about this study.

Freeze-all IVF cycles are a change from traditional protocols

• Traditional IVF protocols at our Austin fertility center and other U.S. fertility centers involve transferring a fresh embryo during the same IVF cycle. Any additional embryos can be frozen for later pregnancies.
• Freeze-all IVF protocols differ. This approach involves freezing all embryos, and then transferring them, one at a time, to the uterus during later cycles.

A freeze-all approach was first used as a way to minimize the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). However, some fertility specialists surmised that this approach could help other groups of women.

Some evidence suggests that fertility medications can have a negative impact on uterine receptivity in certain patients. As a result, physicians suspected that these patients would have higher rates of pregnancy with a freeze-all IVF approach – and they appear to be right.

Several groups of women can benefit from this new approach to IVF

• Women over 35 may benefit from a freeze-all IVF cycle. The study found that 46% of patients got pregnant in a frozen cycle versus 33% in a fresh cycle.
• Women with elevated levels of progesterone may also find greater pregnancy success with this approach. This is true for patients both under 35 and over 35.
• Women at risk for OHSS may benefit from a freeze-all approach.

However, our Austin fertility center does not recommend a freeze-all approach for all patients. Until there is more research, there is no evidence that this approach increases the rate of success for other patient groups.

If you would like more information about IVF or other fertility treatments at Texas Fertility Center, please contact us today.