Birthweights and Down syndrome in neonates that were delivered after frozen‐thawed embryo transfer: The 2007‐2012 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology National Registry data in Japan

Abstract

Aim

To evaluate the use of frozen embryos on the outcome of assisted reproductive technology ( ART), a retrospective study of the Japanese Assisted Reproductive Technology Registry data during the years 2007‐2012 was conducted.

Methods

A total of 124 946 singleton neonates who reached term gestation following ART from 2007‐2012, with 80 660 achieved through frozen‐thawed embryo transfer ( ET) and 44 286 being achieved through fresh ET, were analyzed for their birthweights and chromosomal abnormalities.

Results

The birthweight of the neonates from the frozen‐thawed ETs was significantly higher than that of those from the fresh ETs throughout all the study years. The frequency of Down syndrome was 0.17% for the fresh ETs and 0.13% for the frozen‐thawed ETs in the period 2007‐2012. This study showed that frozen‐thawed ETs result in a constant increase of the average birthweight between 37 and 41 weeks gestational age and lower frequencies of Down syndrome.

Conclusion

Frozen‐thawed ETs were comparable to the fresh ET method, with the exceptions of higher birthweights and a lower frequency of Down syndrome in the neonates that were born from frozen‐thawed ET. The increase in birthweights was not proportional to the gestational ages. This cannot be explained with any well‐known mechanism. The frequency of chromosomal abnormalities needs detailed data for analysis.