Beyler, S. A., Meyer, W. R., & Fritz, M. A. (2000). Disposition of extra embryos. Fertility and Sterility, 74(2), 213-215. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(00)00649-x
Beyler SA, Meyer WR, Fritz MA. Disposition of extra embryos. Fertil Steril. 2000;74(2):213-215. doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(00)00649-x
Beyler, Stan A., et al. "Disposition of extra embryos." Fertility and Sterility, vol. 74, no. 2, 2000, pp. 213-215.
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RRM Academy Synopsis
Extra IVF embryos can be transferred, frozen, discarded or donated
A 2000 commentary says extra IVF embryos can be transferred, frozen, discarded or donated for approved research. The authors argue that transferring extras generally adds multiple pregnancy risk and gives no significant gain in pregnancy odds.
Key Findings
The authors name four ethically acceptable fates for an extra IVF embryo: transfer, cryopreservation, disposal, or donation for approved research. The four may overlap.
Transferring excess embryos generally raises multiple pregnancy risk with no significant gain in overall pregnancy odds. The authors call it imprudent, though a single extra embryo may be better transferred than frozen.
Data from the 1996 SART registry suggested that only 4% of embryos transferred to patients aged 39 and older resulted in a child. The figure was approximately 12% for women under 35.
The registry gave pregnancy rates of 15% to 25% for frozen embryo transfer cycles, results that may be biased toward younger patients. Between 50% and 70% of embryos usually survive thawing.
The authors write that disposal would seem the most common fate. Frozen-thawed transfers numbered under one third of fresh transfers, yet they reason over one third of IVF cycles yielded surplus embryos.
Interpretation
The paper is an Editor's Corner commentary. The journal states that such articles give only the views of their authors. The commentary reports no original data. The figures come from the 1996 registry of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART). The authors note that frozen-embryo rates would probably be lower if every excess embryo were frozen, since programs freeze mainly higher quality embryos. The registry did not say how many cycles included freezing. The authors therefore infer from transfer counts that a large proportion of excess embryos are discarded. The commentary describes practice as of 2000 and reports no outcomes for individual couples.
RRM Context
IVF creates embryos outside the body. Any surplus raises decisions about storage, disposal and donation. Restorative reproductive medicine looks for the cause of a couple's infertility and works with the couple's own cycle. Conception then occurs in the body, and no surplus of embryos arises. IVF bypasses the reproductive system and leaves the reason for infertility unresolved.
Our editorial summary of this paper, not the article's abstract.
