Single versus double blastocyst transfer in first and second frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycle in advance-aged women: a two-center retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Abstract Background The present evidence is deficient for the trade-offs between the pros and cons of single blastocyst transfer (SBT) versus double blastocyst transfer (DBT) in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles for women in advanced reproductive age, especially in the second cycle. The current study aimed to investigate the impact of transferred blastocyst numbers on pregnancy outcomes in the first and second embryo transfer for women ≥ 35 years. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study including 1284 frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer (FBT) cycles from two reproductive centers. We analyzed the pregnancy outcomes after SBT and DBT in the first and second FBT cycles. Moreover, stratified analysis was conducted by maternal age. Results In the first FBT cycle, the LBR was higher in the DBT group than that in the SBT group [52.3% vs. 33.9%; adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.65; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.26–2.15, P < 0.001]. However, the LBR of the DBT group showed no remarkable difference compared with that of the SBT group in the second cycle of FBT (44.3% vs. 33.3%; aOR, 1.30; 95% CI, 0.81–2.08; P = 0.271). Furthermore, stratified analysis by age showed a higher LBR for the DBT group than the SBT group in patients aged 38–42 years (43.1% vs. 33.9%; aOR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.05–4.90; P = 0.036). Conclusions The present study demonstrated that the SBT regimen is a better choice for both, the first and second frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles, for women aged 35–37 years. Additionally, the DBT regimen is still recommended to achieve a high LBR in women aged 38–42 years in the second FBT cycle. These findings may be beneficial for deciding the embryo transfer regimens in women of advanced reproductive age.