Endometriosis and FET
Referenced from "Patient- and cycle-specific factors affecting the outcome of frozen–thawed embryo transfers"
Frozen-thawed Embryo Transfers (FET) has become an increasingly popular assisted reproductive technology due to its high success rate and lower risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome compared to fresh embryo transfers. The success rate of FET is influenced by various patient- and cycle-specific factors that need to be considered to optimize the outcome of the procedure.
A recent study conducted by fertility experts in Germany has revealed the top patient- and cycle-specific factors that affect the success rate of frozen-thawed embryo transfers (FET). These factors ranged from age, BMI, and medical history to the type of endometrial preparation protocol used. The author conducted a retrospective study of 411 FET cycles that were performed between 2017 and 2020 at a fertility center in Germany. The study included various patient- and cycle-specific factors such as the age of the patient, the number and quality of embryos transferred, the type of infertility diagnosis, and the endometrial preparation protocol used.
The results of the study showed that the overall clinical pregnancy rate was 52.1%, while the ongoing pregnancy rate was 45.7%. The author found that the most important patient-specific factor that affected the success rate of FET was the age of the patient. Women who were younger than 35 years old had a significantly higher success rate compared to older women. Other patient-specific factors that affected the success rate included the body mass index (BMI) and the number of previous pregnancies.
But a potential silver lining for those with endometriosis- endometriosis was not found to be an issue; the author states there was no significant difference for a former diagnosis of endometriosis or PCOS and the number of successful FETs.
The author also found that cycle-specific factors such as the type of endometrial preparation protocol used and the number and quality of embryos transferred significantly influenced the success rate of FET. Specifically, the use of a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) protocol was associated with a higher success rate compared to a natural cycle protocol. Additionally, the transfer of two high-quality embryos was associated with a higher success rate compared to the transfer of a single embryo or lower-quality embryos.
If you are considering FET, talk to your fertility specialist about how you can maximize your chances of success. Younger age, lower BMI, and a history of previous pregnancies are associated with a higher success rate. The use of an HRT protocol and the transfer of two high-quality embryos are associated with a higher success rate compared to other protocols and embryo transfer strategies. The author emphasizes the importance of considering these factors when counseling patients and optimizing the outcome of FET cycles.
