Acceptance rates and reasons for social oocyte cryopreservation among women: systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the acceptance rates and reasons for social oocyte cryopreservation (SOC) in the general population (subgroup 1) and healthcare professionals/students (subgroup 2) according to the current literature. Relevant studies published between 2007 and Sept 2023 were identified from electronic databases, including PubMed, EBSCO MEDLINE Complete, Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus, and CINAHL. Quantitative studies reporting women's acceptance rates and reasons for social oocyte cryopreservation were eligible. A total of 20 quantitative studies were included in this process. Meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects models to evaluate study effect sizes. A total of 20 articles were analyzed. While the acceptance rate of SOC women in the general population was 56.5% (95% CI = 47.8-64.9%; tau(2) = 0.98, df = 20; p < 0.001), this rate was between 42 and 66% in female healthcare professionals/students (p > 0.05; I-2 = 98.46%; df = 20; p < 0.001). Among the acceptable reasons for SOC, cost-recovery (67.9%, 95% CI = 58-76%, I-2 = 97.88%, tau(2) = 0.95, df = 6; p < 0.001) and inability to find a suitable partner (45.7%, 95% CI = 32.6-59.5%; I-2 = 97.96%, df = 10; p < 0.001) stand out. Acceptance rates did not differ significantly between the general population and healthcare professionals/students' inability to find a suitable partner (p > 0.05). The meta-analysis shows that more than half of women accept SOC, with the acceptance rate increasing in the absence of a partner and if the cost is affordable.