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Developmental outcomes in children from cryopreserved embryos compared to their siblings from fresh embryo transfers:
Tono Djuwantono1, Wiryawan Permadi1, Christofani Ekapatria2
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran-Dr. Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia.
Insights
Children conceived via cryopreserved embryos show similar developmental outcomes to those from fresh embryo transfers. This study compared sibling pairs to minimize bias, finding no significant differences in development or intelligence.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Genetics
Background:
- Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) involve embryo cryopreservation and fresh embryo transfers.
- Evaluating developmental outcomes in children born from ART is crucial for understanding long-term effects.
- Sibling studies minimize genetic and environmental variables, offering robust comparisons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare developmental outcomes in children conceived from cryopreserved embryos versus fresh embryo transfers.
- To minimize inter-parental variation by studying sibling pairs with differing conception methods.
- To assess neurodevelopmental and cognitive trajectories in relation to embryo cryopreservation.
Main Methods:
- Study design involved three sibling pairs, comparing older siblings from fresh embryo transfers with younger siblings from cryopreserved embryos.
- Standard prenatal and neonatal evaluations were conducted.
- Developmental assessments included the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST)-II for personal-social, language, fine motor, and gross motor skills.
- Intelligence Quotient (IQ) was measured using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) test in five children.
Main Results:
- All children had uneventful pregnancies and deliveries based on standard prenatal measurements.
- DDST-II results indicated that all children's developmental milestones were age-appropriate across personal-social, language, fine motor, and gross motor domains.
- WPPSI testing revealed that five out of six children achieved average to high-average intelligence scores.
Conclusions:
- Developmental outcomes in children conceived from cryopreserved embryos are comparable to those from fresh embryo transfers.
- Cryopreservation of embryos does not appear to negatively impact a child's neurodevelopmental or cognitive functioning.
- Sibling study design supports the safety and efficacy of cryopreserved embryo transfers regarding child development.
Objective:
This study aimed to evaluate the developmental outcomes in children from cryopreserved embryos, with minimum influences of interparental variation that would cause potential bias. Hence we examined siblings, in which the older sibs were from fresh embryo transfers, while the younger sibs were from cryopreserved embryos.
Methods:
Three pairs of siblings were evaluated. All routine prenatal and neonatal evaluation were performed, while personal-social, language, fine and gross motor evaluation were all evaluated by the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST)-II. Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) test was used to measure the Intelligent Quotient (IQ) in 5 of 6 children.
Results:
Standard prenatal measurements of all children suggested uneventful pregnancies, followed by uneventful deliveries. DDST-II results showed that the aspects of personal-social, language, fine and gross motor in every child are as expected according to their ages. Results from WPPSI tests suggest that 5 of 6 evaluated children acquired average to high-average intelligences.
Conclusions:
The results suggest that the developmental outcomes in children from cryopreserved embryos have no significant differences with the outcomes in children from fresh embryo transfers.
