Excellent embryo quality obtained from vitrified oocytes

Abstract

Oocyte vitrification has the potential to expand tremendously the reproductive options for women desiring fertility preservation. Indeed, the number of publications regarding the reliability and efficiency of oocyte vitrification has increased exponentially over the past decade. The application of the technique to standard reproductive technologies depends on not only oocyte survival, but also the developmental potential and clinical outcomes from the resultant embryos. The aim of this study, therefore, was to examine the embryo quality obtained from vitrified, warmed oocytes in a standard infertility population. The results demonstrate that high quality blastocyst development can be expected with subsequent excellent obstetric and perinatal outcomes. These data support oocyte vitrification as a promising technique for fertility preservation.

Implantation rates of embryos generated from slow cooled human oocytes from young women are comparable to those of fresh and frozen embryos from the same age group

“…In comparison, a survival rate of 90% [5,8,9,45] has been achieved with vitrification in 2.7 M ethylene glycol + 2.1 M dimethyl sulphoxide + 0.5 M sucrose in an open system initially reported by Katayama et al, (2003) [46]. This level of survival has repeatedly been obtained [10,[47][48][49] but not by all groups (77%; [50], 81%; [51] and when used in conjunction with a closed system has resulted in a reduced survival (75%; [52]). Manipulation of the equilibration of the permeable cryoprotectant and water prior to vitrification in a closed system has resulted in a high rate of survival (95%) only previously observed in open systems but blastocyst development appeared to be reduced [40], possibly as a consequence of ultrastructural damage [53].…”

Chromosomal meiotic segregation, embryonic developmental kinetics and DNA (hydroxy)methylation analysis consolidate the safety of human oocyte vitrification

“…Oocyte cryopreservation offers a range of perspectives as it: (i) permits women to cryopreserve oocytes prior to gonadotoxic radio-or chemotherapy and/or ovariectomy (Tao and Del Valle, 2008;Ata et al, 2010); (ii) allows women to delay childbearing (Stoop et al, 2011(Stoop et al, , 2014; (iii) eliminates donor-recipient endometrium synchronization problems and (iv) avoids ethical and legal concerns regarding supernumerary cryopreserved embryos and embryo ownership (Schoolcraft et al, 2009). Slow freezing has been the traditional cryopreservation method until the introduction of the vitrification protocol by Kuwayama et al (2005).…”

Creating A Standard of Care for Fertility Preservation

“…Vitrification of oocytes has been proven to increase success in oocyte cryopreservation, producing reliable results and excellent obstetric and perinatal outcomes over the last decade [30]. Additionally, recent data suggests the repolymerization of the meiotic spindle upon thawing of the mature oocyte [7].…”