ASRM ABSTRACTS: Maximizing success rates with single embryo transfer over age 35

This is one of a series of news items from abstracts of studies presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine as complied by Dr. David Meldrum, Scientific Director of Reproductive Partners. We appreciate the enormous amount of work it takes to compile and comment on these abstracts.


One of the two clinical advances that generated the most abstracts was 23 chromosome arrays by comparative genomic hybridization with day 6 transfer or freeze-all.

In one study, patients over 35 (mean age 39-40) were randomized to fresh blastocyst transfer based on morphology versus 23 chromosome SNP array and freeze all by vitrification. Ongoing pregnancy rate was higher after vitrification (60.8 vs 40.9%) with transfer of fewer embryos (1.7 vs 2.2). First trimester loss was 0 vs 20%

This approach (chromosome analysis with vitrification and frozen embryo transfer) will allow single embryo transfer (SET) in women over age 35 with a high rate of success and a low miscarriage rate.