Research Department, CReATe Fertility Centre, Toronto, Canada.
Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2022 Feb;31(2):285-292. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2020.8888. Epub 2021 May 24.
With improvements in oocyte cryopreservation and widespread delays in childbearing, planned oocyte cryopreservation (POC) has become an increasingly attractive option. This study aimed to (1) review POC cycle outcomes at an academic in vitro fertilization (IVF) center and (2) examine POC users' motivations for pursuing POC, fertility knowledge, and the involvement of their primary health care providers (PHP). POC cycle outcomes were collected from IVF records of the 224 women who underwent ≥1 cycle from 2012 to 2018. The 198 who were reachable by e-mail were invited to complete an online survey. The study was approved by the University of Toronto Research Ethics Board (No. 32951). Mean age of the 224 women at first cycle was 36.4 (range: 25-42), with a significant decrease in anti-Müllerian hormone level ( = 0.001) and mean number of oocytes retrieved ( = 0.006) and cryopreserved per cycle ( = 0.042) with increasing age. From those invited for survey participation, 98 (49.5%) questionnaires were returned, with 86 evaluable. Majority of respondents were Caucasian (66%), single (93%), and earned a gross annual income of >$70,000 (74%). Strongest motivation for pursuing POC was concern about age-related fertility decline in the absence of a partner. Respondents' annual income was positively correlated with the number of completed cycles ( = 0.032). Half the respondents correctly identified age of onset of marked fertility decline as ≥35 years. In only 19% of cases was the conversation PHP initiated, and 29% never discussed POC with their PHP. More than 50% of women underwent POC at an age when fertility has begun to markedly decline. It is important for PHPs to identify and discuss POC with appropriate patients and offer accurate preliminary information and timely referrals for those interested in exploring this option.
随着卵母细胞冷冻技术的进步和生育年龄的普遍推迟，计划进行的卵母细胞冷冻保存（POC）已成为一种越来越有吸引力的选择。本研究旨在：（1）回顾在学术体外受精（IVF）中心进行的 POC 周期结果；（2）检查 POC 用户进行 POC 的动机、生育知识以及他们的初级保健提供者（PHP）的参与情况。从 2012 年至 2018 年期间接受≥1 个周期的 224 名女性的 IVF 记录中收集了 POC 周期结果。通过电子邮件向 198 名可联系到的女性发出邀请，让她们完成在线调查。该研究得到了多伦多大学研究伦理委员会的批准（编号：32951）。 224 名女性首次接受 POC 周期时的平均年龄为 36.4 岁（范围：25-42 岁），随着年龄的增长，抗苗勒氏管激素水平（ = 0.001）和每个周期可回收和冷冻的卵母细胞数量（ = 0.006）和（ = 0.042）均显著下降。在受邀参加调查的女性中，有 98 人（49.5%）返回了问卷，其中 86 人可评估。大多数受访者是白人（66%）、单身（93%）和年收入超过 70,000 加元（74%）。进行 POC 的最主要动机是担心在没有伴侣的情况下因年龄相关的生育能力下降而导致不孕。受访者的年收入与完成的周期数呈正相关（ = 0.032）。有一半的受访者正确识别出生育能力明显下降的起始年龄为≥35 岁。仅在 19%的情况下，PHP 启动了对话，而 29%的受访者从未与他们的 PHP 讨论过 POC。超过 50%的女性在生育能力开始明显下降的年龄进行了 POC。对于 PHP 来说，识别并与合适的患者讨论 POC，并为那些有兴趣探索此选项的患者提供准确的初步信息和及时的转诊是很重要的。
