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Abstract Study question Is live birth rate of autologous versus donor cycles similar after a euploid embryo transfer? Summary answer The live birth rate was significantly higher in autologous cycles after a euploid embryo transfer. What is known already Advanced maternal age (AMA) is a detrimental factor for patients to achieve a successful outcome in ART. Physiological ovarian aging negatively affects oocyte quality and quantity. Thus, the number of cycles with donated oocytes is increasing for AMA patients worldwide, with the perspective of surpass the oocyte factor and achieve a live birth in similar rates as younger patients. The goal of this study was to compare the live birth rates of autologous versus donor cycles after a euploid embryo transfer. Study design, size, duration Observational cohort study including all patients of IVF cycles with a euploid embryo transfer after PGT-A (NGS technology), according to medical referral between Jan/2016 and Dec/2020 (n = 3623 patients and 4025 cycles) in a private ART center. Participants/materials, setting, methods Reproductive outcomes between autologous and egg donation cycles were compared and data were analyzed in the follow subgroups: cycles with a fresh oocyte and fresh embryo transfer (FRESH), frozen embryo transfer (FET) and fresh embryo transfer from frozen oocytes (FOT). Positive pregnancy test (PPT), clinical pregnancy (CP), clinical miscarriage (CM) and live birth (LB) rates were compared. Kruskal-Wallis and Fisher test were applied for statistical analysis, significance was considered if p 0,05. Main results and the role of chance In total, 3623 patients – 88.9% autologous and 11.1% with donated oocytes – were included. They performed 4025 ETs (3591/434) with 5313 biopsied blastocysts (4736/577) in a mean of 1,32/1,33 blastocysts per transfer in autologous/donated cycles respectively. The majority of patients using autologous and donated oocytes underwent a FET (97,2% and 63,1%), followed by FOT (1,5% and 34,7%) and FRESH (1,3% and 2,2%, respectively). Mean maternal age in autologous and donor cycles was 37,76±3,9yo and 43,47±4,26yo and oocyte donors were 24,99±3,86yo. In subgroups, autologous patients in FRESH were 38,33±2,69 yo, similar in FET (37,73±3,93 yo) and older in FOT, 39,25±3,93 yo (p = 0,03). Patients in donor cycles showed no difference in age. PPT and CP were similar in autologous and donated cycles (PPT: 59,2% vs 54,8%, p = 0.08; CP: 52,2% vs 48,2%, p = 0.11). In subgroup analysis, PPT and CP were higher in donated cycles vs autologous cycles for FOT (PPT: 50,7% vs 33,3%, p = 0.004; CP: 40,7% vs 20,8%, p = 0.01). Overall, CM were higher in donated cycles (15,5% vs 10,6%, p = 0.03), especially after FET (16,8% vs 10,6%, p = 0.025). LB rates were higher in autologous compared to donated cycles (37,8% vs 29,5%, p = 0.0007). There was no significant difference in LB rates in subgroup analysis. Limitations, reasons for caution This is a large cohort study; however, we cannot exclude potential bias due its retrospective nature. Including only euploid embryos, we excluded bias on ploidy status when comparing autologous versus donated oocytes cycles, yet the potential harmful of embryo biopsy may not be neglect. Wider implications of the findings Live birth rate was significantly higher in autologous cycles after a euploid embryo transfer, regardless of subgroups. AMA patients that choose to undergo an IVF treatment with donated oocytes should be aware that there are other important factors related to a successful reproductive outcome, including immunological adaptation and endometrial aging. Trial registration number Not applicable.
Chehin et al. (Mon,) studied this question.