The year 2024 was extremely successful for our Center.

We had a total of 750 initiated MAR procedures, of which 418 IVF/ICSI procedures, 14 egg cryopreservation procedures, 247 frozen embryo transfers and 71 inseminations.

In 750 initiated cycles, there were a total of 232 positive pregnancy tests, and the success rate per any cycle initiated at the Center (IVF + FET + AIH) was as high as 30.8%.

In MAR procedures, patients ranged in age from 19 to 44 years. The youngest patient to achieve pregnancy was 19 years old, and the oldest was 44 years old.

IVF/ICSI

During 2024, a total of 418 fresh IVF/ICSI cycles were initiated. In 12 patients, the procedure was discontinued prior to aspiration due to the lack of follicular growth, poor response to stimulation, private reasons, or a positive COVID-19 test.

Embryo transfer was not performed in a total of 123 patients. To prevent the development of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), in 65 patients we opted for a procedure in which no embryo transfer is performed (“freeze all” procedure). No egg was obtained in 15 patients who underwent aspiration, and embryo transfer was not performed in 31 patients despite the obtained egg due to various medical reasons (poor egg quality, absence of or improper fertilisation, inadequate embryo development, partner azoospermia on the day of aspiration). In one patient, the embryo transfer was not performed due to the inability to pass through the cervical canal, so the embryos were cryopreserved.

There were 295 embryo transfers in the fresh cycle. Of these, a blastocyst embryo transfer was performed in 36 cycles (12.2%), and the rest were embryo transfers of embryos aged 2-4 days. In 225 cycles (76.3%), embryo transfer of one embryo was performed; in 68 cycles (23%), embryo transfer of two embryos was performed; and in 2 cycles (0.1%), embryo transfer of three embryos was performed. In exceptional cases, we may decide to transfer three embryos, exclusively in women with a poorer prognosis due to age or previous failed procedures. In one of these two cycles, where we transferred three embryos, a biochemical pregnancy occurred, and in the other, no pregnancy was achieved.

In fresh IVF/ICSI procedures, we achieved 87 pregnancies, which represents a success rate of 29.5% per fresh embryo transfer. In 68 embryo transfers of two embryos, only one twin pregnancy was achieved (1.1%), which confirms the validity of our decisions on how many embryos should be transferred during the embryo transfer (which provide the best chance of pregnancy and cause the lowest risk of a multiple pregnancy).

Of the 418 initiated IVF/ICSI procedures, a standard ovulation stimulation protocol (full stimulation) was used in 341 cycles, a mild ovulation stimulation protocol was used in 62 cycles, and in 15 patients the IVF/ICSI was performed in a natural cycle.

Frozen embryo transfer (FET)

During 2024, 248 frozen embryo transfers were initiated and 247 were performed. This one initiated but uncompleted procedure happened because the patient could not come to the embryo transfer appointment, after we had already thawed the embryo.

Frozen embryo transfer resulted in 126 pregnancies, which represents a success rate of 51% per frozen embryo transfer. We had an equal number of frozen embryo transfers in the stimulated and natural cycle. Frozen embryo transfer of one blastocyst resulted in 120 pregnancies, while frozen embryo transfer of two blastocysts resulted in 6 pregnancies. Of these, two were twin pregnancies.

Insemination (AIH)

In 2024, 71 inseminations were performed, four of them in a natural cycle. We rarely perform inseminations in a natural cycle since the most common indication for insemination is anovulation. Pregnancy was achieved in 19 patients, which represents a success rate of 26.8% per cycle.

 

MULTIPLE PREGNANCIES

In total, 2 twin pregnancies were achieved in 2024, which is 0.9% of the total number of pregnancies. One twin pregnancy occurred after fresh embryo transfer in an IVF/ICSI procedure, and one occurred after frozen embryo transfer. These results are consistent with previous years, when we also had less than 5% of twin pregnancies.

Last year, we also had one triplet pregnancy, which occurred after the frozen embryo transfer of one blastocyst in a natural cycle, but unfortunately ended in miscarriage.

In 2024, we also calculated the success rate in treating patients with a very low ovarian reserve (AMH <5 pmol/L), with more details available here, and we have an additional reason to celebrate because in January 2025, the 1200th BetaPlus baby was born!