Effect of hyaluronic acid-enriched transfer medium on pregnancy outcomes in frozen embryo transfer cycles: A retrospective study

Abstract

Objective: To compare pregnancy outcomes between a hyaluronic acid (HA)-enriched transfer medium and a conventional HA-free transfer medium in frozen embryo transfer cycles.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study at Hung Vuong Hospital including frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles performed between May 2023 and February 2025. Cycles were classified according to the transfer medium used: HA-enriched EmbryoGlue (EG) versus Continuous Single Culture-NX Complete (CSCM-NXC). Outcomes included positive human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, live birth, and pregnancy loss.

Results: A total of 840 FET cycles were analyzed (EG, n=445; CSCM-NXC, n=395). Pregnancy outcomes were comparable between groups. Use of EG was not associated with higher rates of positive hCG (40.67% vs. 41.77%) or live birth (27.87% vs. 28.86%). Adjusted analyses similarly showed that transfer medium type was not associated with positive hCG [adjusted odds ratios (aOR) 0.92, 95% CI 0.69-1.22] or live birth (aOR 0.92, 95% CI 0.67-1.25).

Conclusions: In this retrospective cohort, use of an HA-enriched transfer medium was not associated with improved pregnancy outcomes in FET cycles.

Keywords

In vitro fertilization / Frozen embryo transfer / Hyaluronic acid / Pregnancy outcomes / EmbryoGlue / Embryo transfer medium / Live birth / Clinical pregnancy

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Funding

This study did not receive any funding from any organization.

Authors’ contributions

Huy Phuong Tran and Ngoc Thanh Truong conceptualized the study. Vy Nguyen-Thao Do and Quan Van Pham collected data and performed statistical analysis. Tuyet Thi-Diem Hoang and Trang Nguyen-Khanh Huynh investigated the results. Huy Phuong Tran and Ha Le-Bao Tran interpreted the data and drafted the manuscript. All authors approved the final version of the study.

Publisher’ s Note

The Publisher of the Journal remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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