418436

Beyond embryos: the uncharted territory of aging endometrium and frozen embryo transfer outcomes in women aged 40 and older.

Article

Last updated: 09 Apr 2025

Subjects

-

Tags

Assisted reproduction

Abstract

As the demand for assisted reproductive technologies continues to rise, frozen embryo transfer (FET) has emerged as a viable option for women seeking to conceive, particularly those over 40. However, the focus on embryo quality and selection has led to a critical oversight: the impact of endometrial aging on FET outcomes. The most controllable factor affecting FET outcomes is the patient's endometrial condition; thus, improving endometrial receptivity is a research hotspot. Currently, various endometrial preparation protocols before FET have been suggested, including natural cycles (NC), hormone replacement therapy (HRT) cycles, with or without gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) down- regulation, and ovulation induction (OI) cycles. However, until now, no consensus exists on the ideal endometrial preparation regimen before FET, especially for elderly women. the success of FET in women over 40 cannot be solely attributed to embryo quality. The endometrium, once considered a passive recipient, plays a critical role in implantation and pregnancy outcomes. For patients with advanced maternal age (AMA), we should consider the most suitable, safe, and effective endometrial preparation protocol based on the epigenetic, molecular, vascular and cellular characteristics of these patients. From the above mentioned evidence, we should be very cautious before using NC-FET in AMA, as the natural cycle is “not completely natural" nor physiologic in these subgroup of patients.

DOI

10.21608/jrme.2025.361594.1028

Keywords

advanced maternal age, Frozen Embryo Transfer, Endometrial preparation

Authors

First Name

Hassan

Last Name

Maghraby*

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Alexandria University, Egypt., Egyptian Foundation of Reproductive Medicine and Embryology, Alexandria, Egypt.

Email

hassanmaghraby@gmail.com

City

-

Orcid

0000-0003-3661-1594

First Name

Sherif

Last Name

Gaafar

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Alexandria University, Egypt. , Egyptian Foundation of Reproductive Medicine and Embryology, Alexandria, Egypt., Madina Fertility Center, Madina Women’s Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt.

Email

shgaafar301@yahoo.com

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Aya

Last Name

Atef

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Alexandria University, Egypt. , Egyptian Foundation of Reproductive Medicine and Embryology, Alexandria, Egypt.

Email

aya.atef@alexmed.edu.eg

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Heba

Last Name

Hassan

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Egyptian Foundation of Reproductive Medicine and Embryology, Alexandria, Egypt. , Adam and Hawa IVF center. Alexandria, Egypt.

Email

hebahali85@gmail.com

City

-

Orcid

-

Volume

1

Article Issue

4

Related Issue

54794

Issue Date

2025-02-01

Receive Date

2025-02-18

Publish Date

2025-02-01

Page Start

243

Page End

248

Online ISSN

3009-7282

Link

https://jrme.journals.ekb.eg/article_418436.html

Detail API

http://journals.ekb.eg?_action=service&article_code=418436

Order

6

Type

Debate

Type Code

3,044

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Journal of Reproductive Medicine and Embryology

Publication Link

https://jrme.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Beyond embryos: the uncharted territory of aging endometrium and frozen embryo transfer outcomes in women aged 40 and older.

Details

Type

Article

Created At

09 Apr 2025