Trends in patient age at planned oocyte cryopreservation

Abstract Study question Did the age of women who underwent Planned Oocyte Cryopreservation (POC) change in the last decade? Summary answer Mean age of women presenting for POC decreased from 38.2±2.8 to 35.6±2.7. Proportion of women <36 increased from 13% in 2011 to 51% in 2022. What is known already Mean age of women who had POC reported in the literature to date is 37-8. Given that efficacy of POC is strongly related to age, some clinicians advice women considering POC to complete the procedure before age 35. Study design, size, duration Retrospective, observational multicenter study of all POC cycles from January 2011 to October 2022. Women who had oocyte cryopreservation for other indications were excluded. Participants/materials, setting, methods In all, 4021 women had at least one POC cycle in two large private IVF units belonging to the same medical organization in Israel. The main outcome measure was age at first cycle. Total number of women who underwent POC at each year and age at first cycle of every woman were recorded. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. ANOVA was used to test whether mean age differed significantly throughout the years. Main results and the role of chance Since 2011, when POC was first approved in Israel, until the end of October 2022, 4021 women underwent at least one cycle of POC in our units. The number of women who had POC per year increased gradually from 62 in 2011 to 979 in 2021 (last year with full data). Mean age declined with each year, from 38.2±2.8 in 2011 to 35.6±2.7 in 2022. The proportion of women aged < 36 increased gradually from 13% in 2011 to 35% in 2019 and further to 51% in 2022 (R = 0.20, p value<0.01). Limitations, reasons for caution This study was performed in a high-socioeconomic catchment area of one country. This may limit the generalizability of our findings to other populations. In addition, the usage rate and delivery rates of these patients are not known yet. Wider implications of the findings The significant decrease in age of women presenting for POC and the increased proportion of women<36 may present a growing awareness for age related infertility and possibly increased efficacy of POC in younger women. Trial registration number not applicable