A Decade of Oocyte Cryopreservation: New Horizons in Patients Accessing Care.

Abstract

Objective: Utilization of fertility preservation treatments has increased since the American Society for Reproductive Medicine lifted the "experimental" label for oocyte cryopreservation in 2012. This study characterizes changes in insurance coverage, clinical outcomes, and live birth probabilities over a span of a decade (2012-2022) in patients who underwent planned oocyte cryopreservation. Methods: Retrospective analysis of planned oocyte cryopreservation cycles using vitrification from 2012 to 2022. Medically indicated cycles were excluded. Age, anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), number of mature oocytes vitrified, and insurance coverage were evaluated by year of procedure. Comparative statistics were performed using Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square analysis. Linear regression models and Cochran-Armitage trend test were performed to determine the relationships between each variable and time. Result(s): A total of 4,544 planned oocyte cryopreservation cycles were included. Mean age at egg retrieval decreased significantly over time (37.9 ± 2.9 years versus 34.9 ± 3.3, p < 0.0001). Mature oocytes frozen per cycle rose significantly over time (10.7 ± 7.4 in 2012 versus 13.3 ± 8.6 in 2022, p ≤ 0.0001). Cycles with insurance coverage significantly increased, 0% covered in 2012 versus 46.9% covered in 2022 (p ≤ 0.0001). Conclusions: Since 2012, patient age at time of egg freezing has decreased, coinciding with a mean increase in AMH and number of mature oocytes frozen per cycle. Younger participation in extending fertility is likely driven by a boost in social awareness regarding reproductive aging, cryopreservation technologies, and improved access to treatment. Modern oocyte cryopreservation includes more access to insurance coverage, shown by nearly half of current cycles benefiting from plan support. Shifts in patient demographics and insurance coverage, paired with updates to stimulation protocols that optimize oocyte yield, are expected to improve the overall prognosis and future fertility of patients who utilize thawed oocytes.