Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Social Oocyte Cryopreservation Trends

ABSTRACT

Objective: We aimed (1) to quantify the impact of COVID-19 on the number of oocyte cryopreservation cycles performed, and (2) to characterize the demographics of fertility preservation patients both before and during the pandemic. Material(s) and Method(s) We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent social oocyte cryopreservation at a large university-affiliated REI practice. Cycles were divided into two 22-month study periods pre-pandemic (May 2018-February 2020) and post-pandemic (March 2020-December 2021). Oocyte cryopreservation cycles for medical indications (e.g., cancer diagnosis) were excluded. A Student's t-test was used to compare parametric variables between the two groups, while a Wilcoxon Rank-Sum was used for non-parametric variables. A Chi-squared test was used to compare the proportion of oocyte cryopreservation cycles to total ovarian stimulation cycles during each study period. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result(s) During the pandemic, there was a decrease in total ovarian stimulation cycles (n=6,343) compared to the pre-pandemic period (n=6,653). In contrast, there was an 18.9% increase in the number of oocyte cryopreservation cycles seen in the post-pandemic group versus the pre-pandemic group (n=1,165 and n=980, respectively). Overall, there was a difference in the proportion of oocyte cryopreservation cycles performed at our institution pre-pandemic and post-pandemic (14.7 vs. 18.3%, p < 0.001). In addition, the age of post-pandemic oocyte cryopreservation patients decreased (36.2 vs. 35.7 yr, p = 0.004). There was no significant difference found in the BMI, AMH, and number of cryopreserved oocytes per cycle between the two patient groups. Conclusion(s) Although total ovarian stimulation cases declined following the pandemic, the number of social oocyte cryopreservation cycles increased proportionally. This suggests a shift in patients who present to REI clinics for proactive reproductive planning versus infertility care. More studies are needed to elucidate if this is due to a trend toward delayed childbearing, increase in ART, and/or the pandemic. Impact Statement Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a proportional increase in social oocyte cryopreservation cycles. [Formula presented] Copyright © 2022