Oocyte cryopreservation

Abstract

Over the last few years, there has been renewed interest and scientific debate concerning human oocyte cryopreservation. The aim of this study was to analyse the clinical data coming from our long experience of slow-freezing oocytes. Between 2001 and 2007, 1280 thawing cycles were carried out using oocytes previously frozen by means of a slow 1,2 propaniedol+sucrose protocol. A total of 7585 oocytes were thawed, of which 4409 survived and 3622 were microinjected; 144 clinical pregnancies were obtained. The number of thawing cycles increased from 19 in 2001 to 268 in 2007, and the number of thawed oocytes from 197 to 1652. Although the survival rate was significantly lower in the period 2002-2005 than in the period 2006-2007, pregnancy and implantation rates steadily improved from respectively 6.7% and 2.4% in 2001 to 15% and 8.2% in 2007. Our data demonstrate a clinically important improvement in oocyte crypreservation over the years in a Centres with proved experience, and can be offered as a standard of care not only before cancer treatment but also for couples refusing embryo crypreservation or in countries with very restrictive limitations on embryo or zygote freezing.