Frozen embryo transfer leads to larger and heavier babies

In the first study, French scientists looked at neonatal outcome in terms of mode of delivery, gestational age, preterm birth rate (less than 37 weeks of gestation), mean child measurements, low birth weight (less than 2,500g) and perinatal mortality. When comparing the cryo singletons to the fresh cohort, the scientists showed that mean birth weight, mean height and head circumference were lower in the fresh population. The mean birth weight of the cryo babies was 102g higher compared to the fresh cohort. Low birth weight for children born to term (more than 37 weeks) was also significantly lower in fresh babies. Low birth weight to normal birth weight ratio was twice as high in the fresh population (3.6% compared to 1.8%).

"Frozen embryo transfer did not seem to adversely affect neonatal outcome," says Dr. Sylvie Epelboin, from Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital, Paris. "We are not sure why the cryo babies are heavier and larger, but we think it may have something to do with the hormonal hyperstimulation during the fresh cycles."

The researchers found no significant difference between the two cohorts in terms of preterm birth rate and mode of delivery. However, the boys to girls ratio was 1.05 times higher in the cryo group as was the IVF/ICSI ratio (84% compared to 65%). The ratio of women who had given birth once to multiparous women was 1.6 times higher in the fresh cohort. The group analysed 16,002 singletons, 2,140 of these children were in the cryo group and 13,682 were from fresh embryo transfers.

In a second study from Denmark Dr. Anja Pinborg and her group from the Rigshospital at Copenhagen University compared intrauterine parameters of 910 singletons born after frozen embryo transfer (FET) with 9,603 babies from fresh embryo transfer and 4,656 naturally conceived (NC) children. The rate of large-for-gestational age (LGA) babies was significantly different between the three groups with 16.9% for FET, 10.3% for fresh transfer and 11.4% for NC babies. The same applied to the rate of babies with birth weight of 4,500g or more (5.6%, 2.8% and 3.4% respectively).

"Cryopreservation of embryos can result in 'Large Offspring Syndrome', which may be explained by epigenetic changes in the very early embryonic stages caused by freezing and thawing procedures," says Dr. Pinborg. "Future studies must look into the precise epigenetic changes causing LGA offspring in humans. In animal studies, there is evidence that abnormal gene expression of certain developmentally important genes may be responsible for the observed large offspring syndrome."

The risk for a baby to be too heavy for the gestational age at birth is increased 1.6 fold compared to children from fresh embryo transfer and 1.5 fold compared to naturally conceived children. The group found a similar significant pattern for small-for-gestational age (SGA) children. Only 9.2% of FET singletons were SGA compared to 14.8% in fresh IVF and ICSI and 11.3% in NC children.

"We think that because in FET cycles hormone supplementation mimics the natural cycle, compared to the superphysiologically high hormonal stimulation of women in fresh cycles, this 'similar-to-natural-cycle concept' may influence endometrial receptivity, early implantation and placental development in a positive way, leading to higher foetal growth and higher mean weight," Dr. Pinborg will say.

Placenta previa (PP)* was seen in 0.9% of FET pregnancies compared to 1.5% of fresh IVF/ICSI and 0.3% of NC children. However, these figures were not significantly different and there was no association between PP and the risk of being SGA in any of the cohorts. "This lower risk in placenta previa in FET compared to the other groups may be explained with alterations in the endometrial contractility," says Dr. Pinborg. "Ovarian stimulation and/or oocyte retrieval may induce alterations in the endometrial contractility leading to fewer implantation sites than in the unstimulated frozen cycles. The transcervical embryo replacement may also have some impact and hence lead to a higher placenta previa rate in FET compared to natural cycles."

Babies with a high birth weight may face an increased rate of delivery by Caesarean section and obstetric intervention causing complications for both mother and baby.

Provided by European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology