Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-x24gv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-30T20:50:17.235Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Live birth and clinical outcome of vitrification-warming donor oocyte programme: an experience of a single IVF unit

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 April 2021

Romualdo Sciorio Open the ORCID record for Romualdo Sciorio [Opens in a new window] ,
Elena Antonini  and
Bruno Engl
Romualdo Sciorio*
Affiliation:
Edinburgh Assisted Conception Programme, EFREC, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK Donna Salus Women’s Health and Fertility, Bozen, Italy
Elena Antonini
Affiliation:
Donna Salus Women’s Health and Fertility, Bozen, Italy
Bruno Engl
Affiliation:
Donna Salus Women’s Health and Fertility, Bozen, Italy
*
Author for correspondence: Romualdo Sciorio. Edinburgh Assisted Conception Programme, EFREC, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH16 4SA, UK. E-mail: sciorioromualdo@hotmail.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Medically assisted reproductive (MAR) treatments using donated oocytes are commonly applied in several countries to treat women who cannot conceive with their own gametes. Historically, in Italy, gamete donation has been prohibited but, in 2014, the law changed and gamete donation became allowed for couples undergoing MAR treatments. Consequently, in the last decade, there has been an increase in application of the oocyte donation programme. This study reports an egg-donation programme’s clinical efficacy, based on importing donated vitrified oocytes from cryo-banks located in a foreign country. For this, we conducted a retrospective analysis of data from a single reproductive unit located in Italy (Donna Salus Women’s Health and Fertility, Bozen). The study group consisted of 681 vitrified oocytes, which were warmed and culture to be replaced in 100 recipients. The survival rate after warming was 79.1% (n = 539/681), whereas the fertilization and blastulation rates were 90.2% (n = 486/539) and 47.9% (n = 233/486), respectively. Positive pregnancy test, clinical pregnancy rates, and live-birth rates per embryo transfer were 37.8%, 31.1% and 28.4%, respectively. The multiple pregnancy rate was 0.7%. This study is one of the first to report on the efficacy of a donor oocyte programme in Italy using imported vitrified oocytes. The above data may reassure women who are undertaking donation programmes using vitrified oocytes imported from commercial egg banks.

Keywords

Egg donation programmeEmbryo cultureIn vitro fertilization (IVF)Live-birth rateOocyte vitrification-warmingPregnancy outcomes
Type
Research Article
Information
Zygote , Volume 29 , Issue 5 , October 2021 , pp. 410 - 416
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alikani, M and Parmegiani, L (2018). Human reproductive cell cryopreservation, storage, handling, and transport: risks and risk management. Semin Reprod Med 36, 265–72.Google ScholarPubMed
Audibert, C and Glass, D (2015). A global perspective on assisted reproductive technology fertility treatment: an 8-country fertility specialist survey. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 13, 133.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bar-Hava, I, Ferber, A, Ashkenazi, J, Orvieto, R, Kaplan, B, Bar, J, Peleg, D and Ben-Rafael, Z (1999). Does female age affect embryo morphology? Gynecol Endocrinol 13, 371–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barri, PN, Coroleu, B, Martinez, F, Parera, N, Veiga, A, Calderon, G, Boada, M and Belil, I (1992). Indications for oocyte donation. Hum Reprod 7(Suppl 1), 85–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Benagiano, G and Gianaroli, L (2004). The new Italian IVF legislation. Reprod Biomed Online 9, 117–25.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bernard, A and Fuller, BJ (1996). Cryopreservation of human oocytes: current problems and perspectives. Hum Reprod 2, 193–207.Google Scholar
Bianchi, V, Macchiarelli, G, Borini, A, Lappi, M, Cecconi, S, Miglietta, S, Familiari, G and Nottola, SA (2014). Fine morphological assessment of quality of human mature oocytes after slow freezing or vitrification with a closed device: a comparative analysis. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 12, 110.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bourne, H, Edgar, DH and Baker, HWG (2004). Sperm preparation techniques. In: Gardner, DK, Weissman, A, Howles, CM and Shoham, Z (eds). Textbook of Assisted Reproductive Techniques Laboratory and Clinical Perspectives 2nd edn. USA: Informa Healthcare, pp. 79–91.Google Scholar
Budak, E, Garrido, N, Soares, SR, Melo, MA, Meseguer, M, Pellicer, A and Remohí, J (2007). Improvements achieved in an oocyte donation program over a 10-year period: sequential increase in implantation and pregnancy rates and decrease in high order multiple pregnancies. Fertil Steril 88, 342–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, C (1986). Pregnancy after human oocyte cryopreservation. Lancet 1, 884–886.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chian, RC, Huang, JY, Tan, SL, Lucena, E, Saa, A, Rojas, A, Ruvalcaba Castellón, LA, García Amador, MI and Montoya Sarmiento, JE (2008). Obstetric and perinatal outcome in 200 infants conceived from vitrified oocytes. Reprod Biomed Online 16, 608–10.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cobo, A and Diaz, C (2011). Clinical application of oocyte vitrification: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Fertil Steril 96, 277–85.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cobo, A, Kuwayama, M, Pérez, S, Ruiz, A, Pellicer, A, Remohí, J (2008). Comparison of concomitant outcome achieved with fresh and cryopreserved donor oocytes vitrified by the Cryotop method. Fertil Steril 89, 1657–64.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cobo, A, Serra, V, Garrido, N, Olmo, I, Pellicer, A and Remohí, J (2014). Obstetric and perinatal outcome of babies born from vitrified oocytes. Fertil Steril 102, 1006–15.e4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cobo, A, Meseguer, M, Remohí, J and Pellicer, A (2010). Use of cryo-banked oocytes in an ovum donation programme: a prospective, randomized, controlled, clinical trial. Hum Reprod 25, 2239–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cobo, A, García-Velasco, J, Domingo, J, Pellicer, A, Remohí, J (2018). Elective and onco-fertility preservation: factors related to IVF outcomes. Hum Reprod 33, 2222–31.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Colaco, S and Sakkas, D (2018). Paternal factors contributing to embryo quality. J Assist Reprod Genet 35, 1953–68.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cousineau, TM and Domar, AD (2007). Psychological impact of infertility. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 21, 293–308.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
De Geyter, C, Calhaz-Jorge, C, Kupka, MS, Wyns, C, Mocanu, E, Motrenko, T, Scaravelli, G, Smeenk, J, Vidakovic, S, Goossens, V; European IVF-monitoring Consortium (EIM) for the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) (2018). ART in Europe, 2014: results generated from European registries by ESHRE: The European IVF-monitoring Consortium (EIM) for the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). Hum Reprod, 33, 1586–601.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Domingues, TS, Aquino, AP, Barros, B, Mazetto, R, Nicolielo, M, Kimati, CM, Devecchi, T, Bonetti, TCS, Serafini, PC, Motta, ELA (2017). Egg donation of vitrified oocytes bank produces similar pregnancy rates by blastocyst transfer when compared to fresh cycle. J Assist Reprod Genet 34, 1553–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Farhat, M, Zentner, B, Lossos, F, Bdolah, Y, Holtzer, H and Hurwitz, A (2001). Successful pregnancy following replacement of embryos previously refrozen at blastocyst stage: case report. Hum Reprod 16, 337–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fuller, BJ, Hunter, JE, Bernard, AG, McGrath, J, Curtis, P and Jackson, A (1992). The permeability of unfertilised oocytes to 1,2-propanediol: a comparison of mouse and human cells. Cryo Lett 13, 287–92.Google Scholar
Hunter, J, Bernard, A, Fuller, B, McGrath, J and Shaw, RW (1992). Plasma membrane water permeabilities of human oocytes: the temperature dependence of water movement in individual cells. J Cell Physiol 150, 175–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Korb, D, Schmitz, T, Seco, A, Goffinet, F, Deneux-Tharaux, C; JUmeaux MODe d’Accouchement (JUMODA) study group and the Groupe de Recherche en Obstétrique et Gynécologie (GROG) (2020). Risk factors and high-risk subgroups of severe acute maternal morbidity in twin pregnancy: A population-based study. PLoS One 15, e0229612.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kuleshova, L, Gianaroli, L, Magli, C, Ferraretti, A and Trounson, A (1999). Birth following vitrification of a small number of human oocytes: case report. Hum Reprod 14, 3077–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kumasako, Y, Otsu, E, Utsunomiya, T and Araki, Y (2009). The efficacy of the transfer of twice frozen–thawed embryos with the vitrification method. Fertil Steril 91, 383–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kuwayama, M, Vajta, G, Kato, O and Leibo, SP (2005). Highly efficient vitrification method for cryopreservation of human oocytes. Reprod Biomed Online 11, 300–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
La Marca, A, Capuzzo, M, Bartolucci, S, Schirinzi, F, Dal Canto, MB, Buratini, J, Mignini Renzini, M, Rodriguez, A, and Vassena, R (2020). Exploring the pros and cons of new approaches for gamete cross-border donation based on fresh and vitrified oocytes. Facts Views Vis Obgyn 12, 111–18.Google ScholarPubMed
La Marca, A, Dal Canto, M, Buccheri, M, Valerio, M, Mignini Renzini, M, Rodriguez, A and Vassena, R (2019). A novel transnational fresh oocyte donation (TOD) program based on transport of frozen sperm and embryos. Hum Reprod 34, 285–90.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Li, Z, Wang, YA, Ledger, W, Edgar, DH and Sullivan, EA (2014). Clinical outcomes following cryopreservation of blastocysts by vitrification or slow freezing: a population-based cohort study. Hum Reprod 29, 2794–801.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Loutradi, KE, Kolibianakis, EM, Venetis, CA, Papanikolaou, EG, Pados, G, Bontis, I and Tarlatzis, BC (2008). Cryopreservation of human embryos by vitrification or slow freezing: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Fertil Steril 90, 186–93.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Melnick, AP and Rosenwaks, Z (2018). Oocyte donation: insights gleaned and future challenges. Fertil Steril 110, 988–93.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Munné, S, Sandalinas, M, Escudero, T, Márquez, C and Cohen, J (2002). Chromosome mosaicism in cleavage-stage human embryos: evidence of a maternal age effect. Reprod Biomed Online 4, 223–32.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Murakami, M, Egashira, A, Murakami, K, Araki, Y and Kuramoto, T (2011). Perinatal outcome of twice-frozen–thawed embryo transfers: a clinical follow-up study. Fertil Steril 95, 2648–50.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Noyes, N, Porcu, E and Borini, A (2009). Over 900 cryopreservation babies born with no apparent increase in congenital anomalies. Reprod Biomed Online 18, 769–76.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Oktay, K, Cil, AP and Bang, H (2006). Efficiency of oocyte cryopreservation: a meta-analysis. Fertil Steril 86, 70–80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pasch, LA, Holley, SR, Bleil, ME, Shehab, D, Katz, PP and Adler, NE (2016). Addressing the needs of fertility treatment patients and their partners: are they informed of and do they receive mental health services? Fertil Steril 106, 209–15.e2.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Paynter, SJ, Cooper, A, Gregory, L, Fuller, BJ and Shaw, RW (1999). Permeability characteristics of human oocytes in the presence of the cryoprotectant dimethylsulphoxide. Hum Reprod 14, 2338–42.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Perheentupa, A and Huhtaniemi, I (2009). Aging of the human ovary and testis. Mol Cell Endocrinol 299, 2–13.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pickering, SJ and Johnson, MH (1987). The influence of cooling on the organization of the meiotic spindle of the mouse oocyte. Hum Reprod 2, 207–16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pickering, SJ, Braude, PR and Johnson, MH (1990). Transient cooling to room-temperature can cause irreversible disruption of the meiotic spindle in the human oocyte. Fertil Steril 54, 102–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Porcu, E, Fabbri, R, Seracchioli, R, Ciotti, PM, Magrini, O and Flamigni, C (1997). Birth of a healthy female after intracytoplasmic sperm injection of cryopreserved human oocytes, Fertil Steril 68, 724–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Practice Committees of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (2013). Mature oocyte cryopreservation: a guideline. Fertil Steril 99, 37–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rienzi, L, Gracia, C, Maggiulli, R, LaBarbera, AR, Kaser, DJ, Ubaldi, FM, Vanderpoel, S and Racowsky, C (2017). Oocyte, embryo and blastocyst cryopreservation in ART: systematic review and meta-analysis comparing slow-freezing versus vitrification to produce evidence for the development of global guidance. Hum Reprod Update 23, 139–55.Google ScholarPubMed
Rienzi, L, Romano, S, Albricci, L, Maggiulli, R, Capalbo, A, Baroni, E, Colamaria, S, Sapienza, F and Ubaldi, F (2010). Embryo development of fresh ‘versus’ vitrified metaphase II oocytes after ICSI: a prospective randomized sibling-oocyte study. Hum Reprod 25, 66–73.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rienzi, L, Cimadomo, D, Maggiulli, R, Vaiarelli, A, Dusi, L, Buffo, L, Amendola, MG, Colamaria, S, Giuliani, M, Bruno, G, Stoppa, M, Ubaldi, FM (2020). Definition of a clinical strategy to enhance the efficacy, efficiency and safety of egg-donation cycles with imported vitrified oocytes. Hum Reprod 35, 785–95.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sauer, MV and Kavic, SM (2006). Oocyte and embryo donation 2006: reviewing two decades of innovation and controversy. Reprod Biomed Online 12, 153–62.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sciorio, R and Anderson, RA (2020). Fertility preservation and preimplantation genetic assessment for women with breast cancer. Cryobiology 92, 1–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sciorio, R, Thong, KJ and Pickering, SJ (2018a). Single blastocyst transfer (SET) and pregnancy outcome of day 5 and day 6 human blastocysts vitrified using a closed device. Cryobiology 84, 40–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sciorio, R, Thong, KJ and Pickering, SJ (2018b). Comparison of the development of human embryos cultured in either an EmbryoScope or benchtop incubator. J Assist Reprod Genet 35, 515–22.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sciorio, R, Herrer Saura, R, Thong, KJ, Esbert Algam, M, Pickering, SJ and Meseguer, M (2020). Blastocyst collapse as an embryo marker of low implantation potential: a time-lapse multicentre study. Zygote 13, 1–9.Google Scholar
Shenfield, F, de Mouzon, J, Pennings, G, Ferraretti, AP, Andersen, AN, de Wert, G, Goossens, V; ESHRE Taskforce on Cross Border Reproductive Care (2010). Cross border reproductive care in six European countries. Hum Reprod 25, 1361–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smith, LK, Roots, EH and Dorsett, MJ (2005). Live birth of a normal healthy baby after a frozen embryo transfer with blastocysts that were frozen and thawed twice. Fertil Steril 83, 198–200.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Steptoe, PC and Edwards, RG (1978). Birth after the reimplantation of a human embryo. Lancet 2, 366.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stoop, D, Baumgarten, M, Haentjens, P, Polyzos, NP, De Vos, M, Verheyen, G, Camus, M and Devroey, P (2012). Obstetric outcome in donor oocyte pregnancies: a matched-pair analysis. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 10, 42.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thoma, ME, McLain, AC, Louis, JF, King, RB, Trumble, AC, Sundaram, R and Buck, LGM (2013). Prevalence of infertility in the United States as estimated by the current duration approach and a traditional constructed approach. Fertil Steril 99, 1324–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Trounson, A, Leeton, J, Besanko, M, Wood, C and Conti, A (1983). Pregnancy established in an infertile patient after transfer of a donated embryo fertilised in vitro. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 286, 835–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
van Noord-Zaadstra, BM, Looman, CW, Alsbach, H, Habbema, JD, te Velde, ER and Karbaat, J (1991). Delaying childbearing: effect of age on fecundity and outcome of pregnancy. BMJ 302, 1361–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
van Uem, JF, Siebzehnrübl, ER, Schuh, B, Koch, R, Trotnow, S and Lang, N (1987). Birth after cryopreservation of unfertilized oocytes. Lancet 1, 752–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Verza, S Jr and Esteves, SC (2008). Sperm defect severity rather than sperm source is associated with lower fertilization rates after intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Int Braz J Urol 34, 49–56.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vincent, C, Pickering, SJ and Johnson, MH (1990). The hardening effect of dimethylsulphoxide on the mouse zona pellucida requires the presence of an oocyte and is associated with a reduction in the number of cortical granules present, J Reprod Fertil 89, 253–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wise, J (2000). UK lifts ban on frozen eggs. BMJ 320(7231), 334.Google ScholarPubMed
Yadav, V, Bakolia, P, Malhotra, N, Mahey, R, Singh, N and Kriplani, A (2018). Comparison of obstetric outcomes of pregnancies after donor-oocyte in vitro fertilization and self-oocyte in vitro fertilization: a retrospective cohort study. J Hum Reprod Sci 11, 370–5.Google ScholarPubMed