Title of article :
COMFFETI, Combined Fresh and Frozen Embryo Transfers per Individual: A New Index of Quality Control for The Performance of Embryologic Labs in The Emerging Era of Segmentation of Cycle and Freeze-All Strategy
Author/Authors :
Papanikolaou, Evangelos G. Assisting NATURE - Unit of Human Reproduction and Genetics, Thessaloniki, Greece , Timotheou, Evi Assisting NATURE - Unit of Human Reproduction and Genetics, Thessaloniki, Greece , Tatsi, Petroula University Hospital of Brussels - Dutch-speaking Free University of Brussels - Brussels, Belgium , Janssens, Hieronymus Aristotle University of Thessaloniki - 3rd Department Ob Gyn, Thessaloniki, Greece , Grynberg, Michael Department of Reproductive Medicine - Hôpital Jean Verdier- Avenue du 14 Juillet, Bondy, France , Athanasiadis, Apostolos Aristotle University of Thessaloniki - 3rd Department Ob Gyn, Thessaloniki, Greecee , Zafeirati, Christina Assisting NATURE - Unit of Human Reproduction and Genetics, Thessaloniki, Greece , Najdecki, Robert Department of Reproductive Medicine - Hôpital Jean Verdier- Avenue du 14 Juillet, Bondy, France , Petousis, Stamatios Aristotle University of Thessaloniki - 3rd Department Ob Gyn, Thessaloniki, Greecee
Abstract :
The efficacy of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for treating human infertility has only one final efficacy index and
that is the achievement of a delivery. However, with the evolution of the freeze-all strategy, a new problem
is arising for evaluating the performance of an embryological team. The aim of the study was to present a
new representative index, combining fresh and frozen embryo transfer success rates. In this opinion article,
apart from the effectiveness of managing fresh gametes and embryos, we wish to evaluate the efficacy of
the processes of both freezing and thawing of the produced embryos. The reporting of pregnancy rates of
an IVF unit in the past was primarily laying in the fresh embryo transfer (ET) pregnancy rates. Now with
the most frequent utilization of freeze-all strategy, it does not seem logical to report only on poor prognosis
patients as all the good cases are postponed for thawed cycles. Ongoing implementation of the freeze-all
strategy has indicated the need to establish a new representative index that may combine the success of
both fresh and frozen cycles performed in the same woman; an index that may not be biased by the policy
of an IVF center towards or against the freeze-all strategy. This newly proposed index, which is referred to
as COMFFETI (Combined Fresh & Frozen Embryo Transfers per Individual), describes the optimal way to
report final reproductive outcomes in the present opinion article.
Keywords :
Infertility , Embryo , Fresh , Frozen
