The importance of social oocyte cryopreservation in supporting local municipalities

Abstract

Purpose To examine the impact of social oocyte cryopreservation on local communities.Methods A prospective study was conducted on city-dwelling women < 35 years old attending monthly seminars on oocyte retrieval/cryopreservation to whom the study concept was explained. Egg collection and storage management costs were free for three years after the project completed, and subsequent actual storage costs were borne by the individuals. After oocyte retrieval, we conducted a questionnaire on oocyte cryopreservation and administrative assistance.Results Of the 62 seminar participants, 2 became pregnant naturally without oocyte retrieval. Oocytes were retrieved in 34 women (average age: 32.8 years, number of oocytes obtained: 8.3), among whom four subsequently became pregnant and gave birth through natural pregnancy or artificial insemination, and one became pregnant and gave birth using frozen oocytes. In a follow-up questionnaire of 34 subjects, all responded that they were glad to have oocyte cryopreservation, but 23 subjects (67.6%) answered that they could not perform cryopreservation without financial assistance. Twenty-five patients (73.5%) wanted to try to conceive without using frozen oocytes as a post-cryopreservation plan.Conclusions Egg cryopreservation and associated workshops may be useful not as a countermeasure against the declining birthrate but for the expansion of women’s reproductive options.