A new study from the University of New South Wales has found that success rates in IVF cycles using frozen and thawed embryos are now equal to those using fresh embryos.
In the five years leading up to 2013, fresh embryo IVF cycles that resulted in a baby remained steady at around 23 per cent. However, there has been a more than 25 per cent increase in the birth rate for frozen embryo transfers in the last five years, rising from 18 per cent to 23 per cent.
The report also found a growing number of IVF treatments are using frozen embryos, from 39 per cent of IVF cycles in 2009 to 45 per cent of IVF cycles in 2013.
The figures can be found in the Assisted Reproductive Technology in Australia and New Zealand 2013 report.
“Rapid freezing techniques, known as vitrification, and optimisation of the timing of embryo transfer have made a real difference to the success of frozen embryo birth rates,” said UNSW Professor Michael Chapman, Vice President of the Fertility Society of Australia, which funds the annual report and national IVF register.
“Other techniques, such as culturing embryos for five-six days to a blastocyst, before transfer to a woman, and the use of pre-implantation genetic screening have also increased over the last five years of reporting,” Professor Chapman said.
The report shows a small increase in the number of IVF treatment cycles performed in 2013 with 71,516 cycles reported from Australian and New Zealand clinics, representing a 1.9 per cent increase in Australia and 3.8 per cent increase in New Zealand, from 2012.
A total of 12,637 babies were born following IVF treatment in Australian clinics and 1,302 in New Zealand clinics in 2013 and 2014.
