Retrospective Study to Compare Frozen-Thawed Embryo Transfer with Fresh Embryo Transfer on Pregnancy Outcome Following Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection for Male Infertility

BACKGROUND: With the development of assisted reproductive technology, there is increasing evidence that frozen-thawed (FT) embryo transfer achieves a better outcome when compared with fresh embryo transfer in different types of infertile individuals. This aim of this study was to investigate the effect of FT embryo transfer for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) on pregnancy outcome in assisted reproductive technology for male infertility. MATERIAL/METHODS: A total of 516 embryo transfer cycles (286 fresh embryo transfer cycles and 230 FT embryo transfer cycles) were studied, in which ICSI treatment was performed for the first time because of male infertility. The women in the study were normal or had Fallopian tube abnormalities. The clinical data and pregnancy outcomes of these two study groups were compared. RESULTS: The implantation rate, pregnancy rate, and multiple birth rate of the FT embryo transfer group were similar when compared with the fresh embryo transfer group. The live birth rate of the FT embryo transfer group was significantly greater when compared with the fresh embryo transfer group (P<0.05). The rate of miscarriage of the FT embryo transfer group was 6.52%, which was significantly less than that of the fresh embryo transfer group (14.01%) (P<0.05). The gestational age and neonatal birth weight were not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: FT embryo transfer was an effective and safe treatment for patients undergoing ICSI, which improved the live birth rate and reduced the rate of miscarriage.