Journal of Fertilization: In Vitro - IVF-Worldwide, Reproductive Medicine, Genetics & Stem Cell Biol
Open Access

Abstract

Analytical Study with Fresh and Frozen Embryos and the Incidence of Ectopic Pregnancy in In-vitro Fertilization

Tarik Kassem Saidah, Waldemar Naves do Amaral, Kassem Saidah, Carolina Macedo Saidah, Carla Amaral Vieira, Charlene Dourado Caldas and Patricia Gonçalves Evangelista

Objective: To analyze the rates of ectopic pregnancies (EP) in in-vitro fertilization using fresh and frozen embryos.
Design: Retrospective study of all transfers of fresh and frozen embryos from January 2007 to December 2014. Setting: Institutional IVF center.
Patients: A total of 933 patients undergoing in vitro fertilization.
Intervention: Fresh and frozen embryos obtained through in vitro fertilization via intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
Main outcome measures: The rates of Ectopic pregnancy in both groups.
Results: Of the 933 embryos obtained through in-vitro fertilization that resulted in clinical pregnancies, 19 cases of ectopic pregnancies were observed, a prevalence of 2.02%. Fresh embryos led to 772 fertilizations, and 161 were the product of frozen embryos. Using the fresh embryos, 16 ectopic pregnancies occurred, 2.1% of fertilizations; with frozen embryos, the rate was 1.9%. There was a lower rate of ectopic pregnancy with frozen embryos in comparison to fresh embryos, although this did not demonstrate statistical significance (p=0.86) (OR=0.89, CI=0.258-3.11).
Conclusion: The profile of patients with ectopic pregnancy was young patient with young partner that showed good ovarian response, male factor as major indication for the procedure followed by tubal factor, and had more than 3 embryos transferred into the middle of the uterus. The prevalence of EP in this study was 2.02. No significant difference was observed in EP when the transfer of fresh and frozen embryos was compared.