Oocyte Cryopreservation in Adolescent Women

Abstract

Study objective: To describe oocyte cryopreservation (OC) cycles in adolescent women (<20 years of age) performed at Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology member clinics in the United States from 2012 to 2016.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Not applicable.

Participants: OC cycles from the Technology Clinic Outcome Reporting System database.

Interventions: OC cycles from 2012 to 2016 among adolescent women were compared with cycles in older women.

Main outcome measure: Number of oocytes retrieved.

Results: From 2012 to 2016, OC cycles in women younger than 20 years of age accounted for 1.5% of OC cycles in all women. The absolute number has increased over the 5-year period, parallel to the increase in older women. OC cycles in adolescent women were most likely performed for fertility preservation for impending gonadotoxic treatment. The women were most likely to be non-Hispanic white and reside in the Northeast. Ten percent of the cycles were cancelled, most commonly for low response, compared with 6.6% of cycles in other age groups. There was no difference in mean oocytes retrieved in women younger than 20 years (n = 18.0) compared with women 20-29 years (n = 18.4). Complications, including ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, were very rare.

Conclusion: OC cycles in adolescent women are similar with regard to stimulation characteristics and oocyte yield to those in women of other age groups. There is, however, a higher likelihood of cancellation because of poor response.

Keywords: Adolescent; Egg freezing; Fertility preservation; Oocyte cryopreservation.