O-108 Acceptance rates and reasons for social oocyte cryopreservation among women: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tandoğan Ö , Küğcümen G , Güngör Satılmış İ 
Published: July 2024

Study question

What are the acceptance rates and reasons for social oocyte cryopreservation (SOC) in the general population and healthcare professionals/students according to the current literature.

Summary answer

Acceptance rates for SOC was 54%. Lack of a partner and coverage of the costs contributed the acceptance with no differences in subgroup analysis.

What is known already

Oocyte cryopreservation is used for different purposes such as fertility preservation, social reasons and assisted reproductive treatments. In the last 15 years, many studies have been published in the literature examining the reasons and thoughts of women about oocyte freezing in different countries and groups. There is no study that evaluates this body of literature with a general view on social cryopreservation specifically and with the subgroups of the general population and healthcare professionals/students.

Study design, size, duration

A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed following the PRISMA guidelines after a comprehensive literature search using PubMed, EBSCO MEDLINE complete, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus and CINAHL databases between July and September 2023. Studies reporting findings about our primary outcomes including acceptance rates and reasons for SOC in general population and healthcare professionals/students were eligible without limitation on the publication year.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Two reviewers independently reviewed eligibility and assessed for quality using Joanna Briggs Institute checklists. Totally, 23 studies were included. Data were expressed in risk ratio with a 95% CI using a random effect model. Prevalence estimates were calculated using meta-analysis of the proportion of women who viewed SOC acceptable. Heterogeneity was calculated using CochranQ and I2 statistics. The Q statistic was reported as p values, and the I2 statistic was reported in percentages.

Main results and the role of chance

In the metaanalysis based on the previous research data; the overall acceptance rate of social oocyte cryopreservation was found to be 54% (95% CI = 46%–62%). In subgroup analysis performed for healthcare professional/students, acceptance rates were not significantly different (95% CI = 0.47-0.61; p &gt; 0.05). Heterogeneity was high for the acceptance rates of SOC (I2=98.64%, τ2=0.78, df = 22; p &lt; 0.001). In subgroup analysis, acceptance rates were evaluated according to the most common reasons for acceptance. Acceptance rates when the cost of SOC is covered was 57% (95% CI = 0.40% - 0.71%, I2 = 98.62%, τ2 =0.88, df = 7; p &lt; 0.001) and this rate was 49 % in the absence of a partner (95% CI = %34 - %64). Heterogeneity was high (I2=%98,81, τ2=0,96, df = 10; p &lt; 0,001). Acceptance rates according to the reasons did not differ significantly in the subgroups for general population and healtcare professionals/students (coverage of cost: 95% CI = 0.59-0.45; p &gt; 0.05; absence of a partner: 95% CI = 0,51-0,55; p &gt; 0,05).

Limitations, reasons for caution

Some of the included studies had sample sizes that were not large enough to provide sufficient power for reporting on the disposition decision question.

Wider implications of the findings

Metaanalysis revealed that more than half of the women viewed SOC acceptable, acceptance varied within a wide range and increased in the absence of a partner and covering the cost. Findings of this review underline that affordable oocyte cryopreservation will increase the use of SOC among women of reproductive age.

Trial registration number

Not applicable