Planned Oocyte Cryopreservation A Review of Current Evidence on Outcomes, Safety and Risks

The development and refinement of vitrification techniques during the past 15 years have markedly improved the success of oocyte cryopreservation. Oocyte cryopreservation was initially used for fertility preservation before undergoing gonadotoxic treatments but is now becoming increasingly used to circumvent age-related infertility. Because POC is relatively new and most patients who undergo POC have not yet returned to use their oocytes, large-scale outcomes data are relatively sparse. Higher oocyte yield and higher subsequent live birth rates are observed among those who pursue POC at younger ages, reenforcing the effect of age on fertility preservation out-comes. Meanwhile, race and ethnicity do not seem to affect oocyte yield, although POC is underutilized among Black and Hispanic patients. Patients may overestimate the success of their cryopreserved oocytes, suggesting a need for individualizable counseling tools to help patients predict the number of cryopreserved oocytes needed for an acceptable likelihood of a live birth. Although there is limited evidence to predict the likelihood of live birth in women undergoing POC, preliminary models offering guidance on the optimal number of oocytes to cryopreserve to reach fertility goals have been proposed.22,46 As we continue to build data on reproductive outcomes over time and better understand the effect of factors such as BMI, smoking or ethnicity, we can also provide more concrete guidance to patients. Furthermore, as rates of delayed childbearing continue to increase, it is more important than ever for providers to incorporate counseling about POC into routine discussions with patients about their reproductive life plans.