Recently, the world-renowned medical journal The BMJ published findings from a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized controlled clinical study featuring participation by Associate Professor Gong Fei’s research team from the Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Xiangya School of Basic Medicine, Central South University. The paper is titled Frozen versus fresh embryo transfer in women with low prognosis for in vitro fertilisation treatment.

Led by the research team of Academician Chen Zijiang from the National Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Shandong University Institute of Women’s, Children’s and Reproductive Health, Academician Chen Zijiang serves as the corresponding author. The co-first authors include Professor Wei Daimin, Professor Zhao Han and Professor Yan Junhao from Shandong University Institute of Women’s, Children’s and Reproductive Health, Professor Sun Yun from Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Professor Zhou Hong from Guangxi Maternity and Child Health Hospital, and Associate Professor Gong Fei from Xiangya School of Basic Medicine, Central South University.

Over the past four decades, in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET), commonly known as IVF or test-tube baby technology, has achieved remarkable advances. Nevertheless, patients with poor prognostic factors such as advanced maternal age and diminished ovarian reserve still suffer from low IVF success rates, posing a persistent clinical challenge. Due to delayed childbearing ages and shifting lifestyles, the proportion of such patients keeps rising, accounting for as high as 40% of IVF patients according to international surveys. Identifying optimal fertility treatment protocols for this population to maximize the utilization of precious embryos carries profound clinical value and social benefits.

Study results demonstrate that for IVF patients with poor prognosis, fresh embryo transfer yields higher live birth rates and cumulative live birth rates compared with the all-freeze embryo strategy. This high-quality evidence guides clinical decision-making on embryo transfer protocols for this patient group.

Associate Professor Gong Fei’s team has long focused on clinical treatment strategies for assisted reproduction, presiding over and participating in numerous high-quality domestic multicenter clinical trials. The team previously took part in a multicenter study published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) in 2021. This research received strong support from the NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering of Xiangya School of Basic Medicine and CITIC Xiangya Reproductive and Genetic Hospital.

First Reviewer: Liu Juan

Second Reviewer: Li Ruijun

Third Reviewer: Huang Zhijun