Hsieh YY, Tsai HD, Chang CC, Chang CC, Lo HY, Lai AC. Ultrarapid cryopreservation of human embryos: experience with 1,582 embryos.
Fertil Steril 1999;
72:253-6. [PMID:
10438990 DOI:
10.1016/s0015-0282(99)00257-5]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
To demonstrate the effectiveness of ultrarapid cryopreservation in human embryos.
DESIGN
Retrospective study.
SETTING
An IVF unit of a medical center.
PATIENT(S)
All cases received ultrarapid freezing (URF) of embryos and frozen embryo transfer.
INTERVENTION(S)
Embryos were placed in phosphate-buffered saline (PB1) + 20% maternal serum (MS) for 5 minutes. Embryos were loaded to the straws containing PB1 + MS + 0.25 M sucrose (SUC) + 3.5 M dimethyl sulfoxide for 3 minutes, and then were stored in a liquid nitrogen tank. Embryos were thawed in a 37 degrees C water for 6 seconds and then cultured in PB1 + MS + SUC for 10 minutes. Embryos were transferred into PB1 + MS for 5 minutes and were transferred into patients.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
The embryo grades before and after URF, the survival and transferred embryo numbers, and the pregnancy and abortion rates were analyzed.
RESULT(S)
A total of 1,582 embryos were thawed, of which 1,273 (80.5%) embryos were transferred and 1,032 (65.2%) embryos survived with > or = 50% intact blastomere. The embryo numbers with grade I or II before and after freezing and thawing were 1,110 (70.2%) and 790 (50.0%). The mean embryo numbers per transfer was 5.0. Twenty-eight pregnancies (11.4% per transfer) were established, which included 5 miscarriages, 1 ectopic pregnancy, 4 preterm and 18 term deliveries.
CONCLUSION(S)
Ultrarapid freezing is worthy of reconsideration for embryo cryopreservation.
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