Age-specific blastocyst conversion rates in embryo cryopreservation cycles.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Embryology
• In Vitro Fertilization

Background:

• Embryo cryopreservation is a key component of assisted reproductive technologies.
• Understanding age-related changes in embryo development is crucial for patient counseling and treatment planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between female age and blastocyst conversion rates in embryo cryopreservation cycles.
• To assess the impact of age on mature oocyte and fertilization rates.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 3,362 patients undergoing their first ovarian stimulation cycle with a freeze-all strategy.
• Patients were stratified by age to analyze blastocyst conversion, mature oocyte, and fertilization rates.

Main Results:

• Blastocyst conversion rates remained comparable through age 40, with a significant decline observed from age 41 onwards.
• Mature oocyte and fertilization rates were comparable across age groups until age 44.
• At age 44 and above, a statistically significant increase in mature oocyte rate and a decrease in fertilization rate were noted.

Conclusions:

• Blastocyst conversion rates decline significantly after age 40.
• Oocyte maturation and fertilization rates are generally maintained until age 44.
• These findings aid in counseling patients regarding predicted blastocyst yield during embryo culture.