Flashcards on Embryo Transfer Techniques and Outcomes

Embryo Transfer Techniques and Outcomes: A Student Guide

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What are the two main embryo transfer strategies compared in IVF cycles?

Fresh embryo transfer (transfer in the same stimulated cycle) and 'freeze-all' followed by frozen embryo transfer (FET).

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Embryo Transfer (Fresh vs Frozen)

11 cards

Card 1

Question: What are the two main embryo transfer strategies compared in IVF cycles?

Answer: Fresh embryo transfer (transfer in the same stimulated cycle) and 'freeze-all' followed by frozen embryo transfer (FET).

Card 2

Question: What historical practice preceded routine embryo freezing in IVF?

Answer: Transferring multiple embryos after oocyte pickup and discarding 'excess' embryos (before embryo freezing was available).

Card 3

Question: List key maternal and neonatal risks associated with transferring multiple embryos.

Answer: Increased rates of miscarriage, preterm birth, gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension/preeclampsia, and higher-order multiple pregnancie

Card 4

Question: What is a main physiological reason FET might give different outcomes than fresh transfer?

Answer: The stimulated cycle for fresh transfer uses high doses of gonadotrophins that can affect the endometrium, whereas FET occurs after a non-stimulated o

Card 5

Question: What are two potential advantages and two disadvantages of a 'freeze-all' strategy?

Answer: Advantages: may help avoid OHSS and could yield better success rates in some groups. Disadvantages: delays time to pregnancy, increases cost and numbe

Card 6

Question: In women with PCOS, how did live birth rates compare between fresh transfer and freeze-all then FET in the cited RCT?

Answer: Freeze-all then FET showed higher live birth rate (49.3%) versus fresh transfer (42%).

Card 7

Question: According to the PCOS study results, how did miscarriage and birthweight compare between freeze-all and fresh transfer?

Answer: Miscarriage was lower with freeze-all (32.7% listed for fresh vs 22% for frozen in the slide data); birthweight was slightly higher with frozen transf

Card 8

Question: For ovulatory (non-PCOS) women in the 2018 RCT, how did live birth rates compare between fresh and freeze-all strategies?

Answer: Live birth rates were similar: fresh 50.2% vs frozen 48.7% (no clear advantage for freeze-all).

Card 9

Question: What trade-offs were noted for freeze-all strategy in normal ovulatory women?

Answer: Similar success rates to fresh transfer, heavier babies after FET, longer time to pregnancy (TTP), and a possible increased risk of preeclampsia (unce

Card 10

Question: For which patient group did the presentation conclude 'freeze-all' is suitable?

Answer: Women at high risk of OHSS (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome).