Assessing couples ’ preferences for fresh or frozen embryo transfer: a discrete choice experiment

AbstractSTUDY QUESTIONWhat are couples ’ preferences for fresh embryo transfer versus freezing of all embryos followed by frozen embryo transfer and the associated clinical outcomes that may differentiate them?SUMMARY ANSWERCouples ’ preferences are driven by anticipated chances of live birth, miscarriage, neonatal complications, and costs but not by the differences in the treatment process (including delay of embryo transfer linked to frozen embryo transfer and risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) associated wit h fresh embryo transfer).WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYA policy of freezing all embryos followed by transfer of frozen embryos results in livebirth rates which are similar to or higher than those following the transfer of fresh embryos while reducing the risk of OHSS and small for gestational age babies: it can, however, increase the risk of pre-eclampsia and large for gestational age offspring. Hence, the controversy continues over whether to do fresh embryo transfer or freeze all embryos followed by frozen embryo transfer.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONWe used a discrete choice experiment (DCE) technique to survey infertile couples between August 2018 and January 2019.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSWe asked IVF na ïve couples attending a tertiary referral centre to independently complete a questionnaire with nine hypothetical choice tasks between fresh and frozen embryo transfer. The alternatives varied across the choice occurrences on several attribu...
Source: Human Reproduction - Category: Reproduction Medicine Source Type: research