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Fresh is just as good as frozen when it comes to successful IVF, say Aussie researchers

By Kristen Amiet|

Image: iStock
Overall, the report indicates Australia and New Zealand is the safest regions in the world to undergo IVF

Local researchers have discovered frozen embryos thawed for use in IVF cycles are just as effective as "fresh" eggs.

The Assisted Reproductive Technology in Australia and New Zealand 2013 report, released by UNSW's National Perinatal Epidemiology and Statistics Unit (NPESU), showed there has been an increase of more than 25 percent in the birth rate using frozen embryo transfers in the last five years.

The birth rate using frozen embryos rose from 18 to 23 percent in the years between 2008 and 2013.

The birth rate for "fresh" embryos used in IVF cycles remain steady at around 23 percent in the five years between 2008 and 2013.

"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 (FSA).

The report also showed a slight increase in the overall number of IVF procedures performed during that time, with a 1.9 percent increase in Australia and a 3.8 percent increase in New Zealand from 2012.

The rate of multiple births by families using assisted reproductive technology also fell by almost a third in the past five years alone.

"Multiple births are by far the greatest health risk to mothers and babies from IVF, and multiple embryo transfer clearly increases this risk," Professor Chapman said.

Overall, the report indicates Australia and New Zealand is the safest regions in the world to undergo IVF.

"Australia and New Zealand have the lowest IVF multiple birth rates of any region in the world and yet also maintain consistently high success rates," Associate Professor Bowman said.

This report contains data about IVF cycles undertaken in 2013 and the resulting babies born in 2013 and 2014. The data is maintained by the NPESU within UNSW's Centre for Big Data Research in Health and School of Women's and Children's Health on behalf of the FSA.

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