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BMC Medicine
Published in: BMC Medicine 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Outcomes of neonates born following transfers of frozen-thawed cleavage-stage embryos with blastomere loss: a prospective, multicenter, cohort study

Authors: Yan-Ting Wu, Cheng Li, Yi-Min Zhu, Shu-Hua Zou, Qiong-Fang Wu, Li-Ping Wang, Yan Wu, Rong Yin, Chao-Yi Shi, Jing Lin, Zi-Ru Jiang, Yi-Jing Xu, Yun-Fei Su, Jian Zhang, Jian-Zhong Sheng, William D. Fraser, Zhi-Wei Liu, He-Feng Huang

Published in: BMC Medicine | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Despite limited information on neonatal safety, the transfer of frozen-thawed cleavage-stage embryos with blastomere loss is common in women undergoing in vitro fertilization. We aimed to evaluate the pregnancy outcomes and safety of frozen-thawed cleavage-stage embryos with blastomere loss.

Methods

This prospective, multicenter, cohort study included all frozen-thawed cleavage-stage embryo transfer (FET) cycles between 2002 and 2012. Pregnancy outcomes and subsequent neonatal outcomes were compared between FET cycles with intact embryos and those with blastomere loss.

Results

A total of 12,105 FET cycles were included in the analysis (2259 cycles in the blastomere loss group and 9846 cycles in the intact embryo group). The blastomere loss group showed significantly poorer outcomes with respect to implantation, pregnancy, and live birth rates than the intact embryo group. However, following embryo implantation, the two groups were similar with respect to live birth rates per clinical pregnancy. Among multiple pregnancies (4229 neonates), neonates from the blastomere loss group were at an increased risk of being small for gestational age (aOR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.00–2.25) compared to those from the intact group. A similar trend was observed among singletons (aOR = 1.84, 95% CI 0.99–3.37). No associations were found between blastomere loss and the subsequent occurrence of congenital anomalies or neonatal mortality. However, neonates from the blastomere loss group were at an increased risk of transient tachypnea of the newborn (aOR = 5.21, 95% CI 2.42–11.22).

Conclusions

The transfer of embryos with blastomere loss is associated with reduced conception rates. Once the damaged embryos have implanted, pregnancies appear to have the same probability of progressing to live birth but with an increased risk of small for gestational age neonates and transient tachypnea of the newborn.

Study registration

This study was retrospectively registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. Registration number: ChiCTR-OOC-16007753. Registration date: 13 January 2016.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Outcomes of neonates born following transfers of frozen-thawed cleavage-stage embryos with blastomere loss: a prospective, multicenter, cohort study
Authors
Yan-Ting Wu
Cheng Li
Yi-Min Zhu
Shu-Hua Zou
Qiong-Fang Wu
Li-Ping Wang
Yan Wu
Rong Yin
Chao-Yi Shi
Jing Lin
Zi-Ru Jiang
Yi-Jing Xu
Yun-Fei Su
Jian Zhang
Jian-Zhong Sheng
William D. Fraser
Zhi-Wei Liu
He-Feng Huang
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Medicine / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1741-7015
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-018-1077-8

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