London Women’s Clinic, one of the UK’s most established IVF clinics, has released a 15-year study on the success of IVF using eggs that were frozen and later thawed, an approach previously not recommended by the HFEA.
The significant study, now published in the peer-reviewed journal Reproductive Biomedicine Online, has conclusively shown that egg freezing is a reliable option for women wishing to extend their fertility or postpone pregnancy plans.
Previously considered less reliable and even questioned as potentially unethical, the study demonstrated consistent and predictable outcomes comparable to traditional methods, drawing on data from over 2,280 patients.
‘When our results are considered alongside those from other large centres, in the USA, we have a body of evidence which is consistent in its findings and reassuring for patients,’ said Professor Nick Macklon, Medical Director of the London Women’s Clinic and an author of the study. ‘The consistency of the results suggests that the doubts still commonly expressed about the reliability of egg freezing are misplaced.’
The HFEA, the UK’s fertility regulator, noted a substantial rise in egg freezing in its 2022 annual report on treatment trends, reporting an 81% increase in egg freezing treatments during that year.
The HFEA attributed the rise in egg storage cycles to improvements in freezing techniques, particularly the vitrification technology. The HFEA reported that improved survival rates have given women greater confidence in freezing eggs.
The London Women’s Clinic study showed that among patients who had frozen and thawed their eggs, one in four went on to have a baby, with the success rate increasing to one in three when all embryo transfers were included. This rate rose to 57% for those who had stored their eggs before the age of 35. These results are comparable to those of routine IVF using fresh eggs, taking into account age, egg quality, and egg quantity.
‘It thus seems reasonable to conclude,’ added Professor Macklon, ‘that based on our results and those of other studies, egg freezing and thawing can provide a very real opportunity for women to achieve pregnancy and live birth at a time of their choosing.’
