Impact of In Vitro Fertilization Strategies - Fresh Versus Frozen Embryo Transfer, Embryonic Development Stage, PGT-A and Corticosteroid Therapy - on Live Birth Rate in Women with Infertility: A Systematic Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36557/2674-8169.2026v8n5p77-201Keywords:
Fertilization in Vitro, Live Birth, Female Infertility, Preimplantation Diagnosis, Pregnancy RateAbstract
Infertility, defined as the inability to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular attempts without the use of contraceptives, constitutes a significant public health issue, with in vitro fertilization (IVF) established as one of the main therapeutic alternatives; however, treatment success, particularly regarding live birth rates, depends on multiple clinical and laboratory factors. In this context, the present study aimed to analyze, through a systematic review, the impact of different strategies used in IVF—including fresh versus frozen embryo transfer, the stage of embryonic development at the time of transfer (cleavage or blastocyst), the application of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A), and the adjuvant use of corticosteroid therapy—on live birth rates in women with infertility. The methodology followed PRISMA guidelines, with the research question formulated based on the PICO strategy, considering infertile women undergoing IVF as the population, the analyzed strategies as interventions, conventional approaches or the absence of these interventions as the comparison, and live birth rate as the primary outcome; the search was conducted in the PubMed, SciELO, and BVS databases, including clinical trials, controlled clinical trials, and randomized controlled trials published between 2015 and 2025 in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. A total of 251 studies were identified, of which, after screening and application of eligibility criteria, 20 articles were included in the final analysis. The results demonstrate that the analyzed strategies influence reproductive outcomes, with potential impacts of the different techniques on implantation and live birth rates. It is concluded that the individualization of IVF approaches is essential to optimize clinical outcomes, and further studies are needed to strengthen the evidence and guide clinical practice.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Gabriella Corrêa Leite, Maria Victória Inocente Lagrotta Pereira, Maria Gabrielly Vieira de Barros, Beatriz de Melo Henrique, Giovanna Girotto dos Santos, Giovanna Prieto Barbosa, Renam Arthur de Sousa
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