Planned Oocyte Cryopreservation Following the 2021 French Bioethics Law: Women's Characteristics and Early Clinical...

Planned oocyte cryopreservation (POC) has been authorized in France since 2021 within a specific national counselling and reimbursement framework. The primary aim of this study was to describe the sociodemographic characteristics, motivations, and fertility-related knowledge of women seeking POC after implementation of the 2021 French Bioethics Law. Secondary aims were to report early cycle outcomes and explore factors associated with oocyte vitrification outcomes.

We conducted a descriptive, observational single-center study at Rouen University Hospital, retrospectively analyzing prospectively collected standardized counselling data and POC cycle outcomes. Women registering for POC between September 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022, were included, with follow-up through July 31, 2023. Associations between available clinical and biological parameters and oocyte vitrification outcomes were explored.

Overall, 117 women registered for POC, and 69 attended the POC counselling consultation. Participants had higher educational levels than the general French population; the leading motivations were single status and awareness of age-related decline in ovarian reserve. By July 31, 2023, 40 women had initiated COH treatment and 38 had completed at least one full cycle. The mean number of cryopreserved mature metaphase II oocytes was 12.1 ± 8.8 per woman. Exploratory analyses showed that AMH and AFC were positively associated with oocyte vitrification outcomes, whereas higher BMI was associated with lower oocyte yield and reduced maturation rate.

In this early single-center French cohort, women seeking POC were mostly highly educated and were mainly motivated by single status and awareness of age-related fertility decline. Early vitrification outcomes were associated with ovarian reserve markers and BMI. Longer-term follow-up is required to assess oocyte utilization, pregnancy and live birth outcomes, and the impact of publicly funded POC on access to fertility preservation in France.