Chapter 13: Adaptation of a Universal Procedure for Cryopreservation of Different Developmental Stages: Is it Conceivable?

A RENEWED INTEREST IN CRYOPRESERVATION: WHY?
It is now well recognized that the proportion of births following transfer of cryopreserved gametes or embryos will increase dramatically. Several reasons may explain this rising interest for embryo transfer (ET) after cryopreservation. The improvement of in vitro culture technique enables gaining better quality embryos associated with the policy of single embryo transfer (SET) results in the increasing proportion of supernumerary embryos cryopreserved at different
stages of development. Moreover, with the increased efficiency of the cryopreservation technique such as vitrification, there is now a tendency to shift from fresh ET to cryopreserved ET in artificial or natural cycles. This attitude is relevant especially when the progesterone level
before oocyte pick-up is above a physiological limiting value, a not optimal thickness of the endometrium or when embryos are originated from an in vitro maturation cycle.
Cryopreserved ET is also an opportunity, when fresh ET cycles are cancelled because of hyperstimulation. With the introduction of vitrification, there is also an emergent change in the general attitude towards oocyte cryopreservation offering available solution, for example,
in the field of preservation of fertility, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, poor responder, absence of sperm at the time of oocyte pick-up, cryo-banking for egg donation program or for social reason and finally to overcome ethical concerns and legal restrictions.