The authors would like to acknowledge all of the couples who participated in the trial and the site staff, without whom this research would not have been possible. We thank the members of the independent DMC and TSC, and the administrative and support colleagues at the NPEU CTU.
Funding and sponsorship
The E-Freeze trial was sponsored by the University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian. The sponsor had no role in the study design or data collection, analysis and interpretation.
Independent Trial Steering Committee
Professor Richard Anderson (chairperson), Ms Kate Brian, Ms Gwenda Burns, Ms Helen Kendrew, Dr Umesh Acharya, Mr Lee Middleton, Ms Sue Avery, Ms Susan Seenan and Ms Aileen Feeney.
Independent Data Monitoring Committee
Mr Anthony Rutherford (chairperson), Dr Paul Knaggs, Dr Gillian Lockwood and Dr Elizabeth Allen.
Contributions of authors
Abha Maheshwari (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3652-2447) (Chief Investigator) was responsible for data collection and management, the study design and writing the report; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Vasha Bari (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8183-2455) (E-Freeze Acting Trial Manager) was responsible for data collection and management; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Jennifer L Bell (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9571-0715) (Medical Statistician) was responsible for the data analysis and writing the report; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Siladitya Bhattacharya (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4588-356X) (Co-investigator) was responsible for the study design; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Priya Bhide (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0871-6508) (Principal Investigator) provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Ursula Bowler (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0100-0155) (Senior Trials Manager) was responsible for data collection and management, and the study design; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Daniel Brison (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4307-1293) (Co-investigator) was responsible for the study design; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Tim Child (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6668-0529) (Co-investigator and Principal Investigator) was responsible for the study design; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Huey Yi Chong (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0768-1844) (Research Fellow and Health Economist) was responsible for the health economic analysis and writing the report; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Ying Cheong (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7687-4597) (Principal Investigator) provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Christina Cole (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8798-2136) (Core Trials Support and E-Freeze Trial Manager) was responsible for data collection and management, the study design and writing the report; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Arri Coomarasamy (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3261-9807) (Co-investigator) was responsible for the study design; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Rachel Cutting (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6786-1097) (Director of Compliance at Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, Co-investigator and Principal Investigator) was responsible for the study design; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Fiona Goodgame (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4809-9746) (Acting E-Freeze Trial Manager, Administrator and Data Co-ordinator) was responsible for data collection and management, and writing the report; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Pollyanna Hardy (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2937-8368) (Co-investigator and Senior Medical Statistician) was responsible for the study design; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Haitham Hamoda (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2330-1768) (Principal Investigator) provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Edmund Juszczak (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5500-2247) (Co-investigator and former NPEU CTU Director, current Professor of Clinical Trials and Statistics in Medicine in Nottingham CTU) was responsible for data collection and management, the study design and the data analysis; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Yacoub Khalaf (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5642-7367) (Co-investigator and Principal Investigator) was responsible for the study design; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Andrew King (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7175-2718) (Head of Trials Programming) was responsible for data collection and management, and the study design; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Jennifer J Kurinczuk (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9554-6337) (Co-investigator and Director, NPEU) was responsible for the study design; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Stuart Lavery (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7380-3491) (Co-investigator and Principal Investigator) was responsible for the study design; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Clare Lewis-Jones (Co-Investigator and patient and public involvement representative) was responsible for the study design; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Louise Linsell (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3205-6511) (Lead Medical Statistician) was responsible for the data analysis and writing the report; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Nick Macklon (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2436-2316) (Co-investigator and Principal Investigator) was responsible for the study design; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Raj Mathur (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7550-1817) (Principal Investigator) provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
David Murray (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9010-2905) (Senior Trials Programmer) was responsible for data collection and management, and the study design; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Jyotsna Pundir (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4183-8048) (Principal Investigator) provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Nick Raine-Fenning (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5521-9059) (Co-investigator and Principal Investigator) was responsible for the study design; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Madhurima Rajkohwa (Co-investigator and Principal Investigator) was responsible for the study design; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Lynne Robinson (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3309-554X) (Principal Investigator) provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Graham Scotland (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5539-8819) (Co-investigator and Senior Health Economist) was responsible for the study design, the health economic analysis and writing the report; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Kayleigh Stanbury (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8726-2411) (Senior Trials Manager) was responsible for data collection and management; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Stephen Troup (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3342-4825) (Co-investigator and Principal Investigator) was responsible for the study design; provided intellectual input during the conduct of the study, modification of the protocol, delivery of the study, interpretation of the findings, recommendations and implications for policy and practice, and dissemination; and approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Publication
Maheshwari A, Bell JL, Bhide P, Brison D, Child T, Chong HY, et al. Elective freezing of embryos versus fresh embryo transfer in IVF: a multicentre randomized controlled trial in the UK (E-Freeze). Human Reprod 2022:deab279.
Data-sharing statement
Data will be shared in accordance with the NPEU Data Sharing policy. Requests for access to the data will be considered by the NPEU Data Sharing committee. Access to anonymised data can be requested from general@npeu.ox.ac.uk.
Patient data
This work uses data provided by patients and collected by the NHS as part of their care and support. Using patient data is vital to improve health and care for everyone. There is huge potential to make better use of information from people’s patient records, to understand more about disease, develop new treatments, monitor safety, and plan NHS services. Patient data should be kept safe and secure, to protect everyone’s privacy, and it’s important that there are safeguards to make sure that it is stored and used responsibly. Everyone should be able to find out about how patient data are used. #datasaveslives You can find out more about the background to this citation here: https://understandingpatientdata.org.uk/data-citation.
Disclaimers
This report presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The views and opinions expressed by authors in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the NHS, the NIHR, the HTA programme or the Department of Health and Social Care. If there are verbatim quotations included in this publication the views and opinions expressed by the interviewees are those of the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect those of the authors, those of the NHS, the NIHR, the HTA programme or the Department of Health and Social Care.