Japanese society of Ova Research

Abstract

Vol.24 No.1

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Original
Re-cryopreservation by Vitrification of Human Blastocysts Developed from Frozen-Cleaved Embryos: A Report of 15 Cyclesa
JMOR, 24(1) 23-28, 2007
DOI: 10.1274/jmor.24.23
1Kinutani Women's Clinic, 2-1-4-3F, Ohtemachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-0051, Japan
2Graduate School of Applied Biosciences, Hiroshima Prefectural University, Shoubara, Hiroshima 727-0023, Japan

Human blastocysts have been successfully cryopreserved and many live births occur each year using blastocysts that have been cryopreserved once. However, there is a paucity of information on re-cryopreservation of human blastocysts developed from frozen embryos. Therefore, we document the data for 27 blastocysts from 15 cycles (12 patients) of warming to review the efficacy of re-cryopreservation by vitrification of human blastocysts developed from frozen-cleaved embryos. A total of 27 surplus human blastocysts developed from frozen-cleaved embryos, obtained from 12 healthy infertile women undergoing IVF treatment between February 2004 and December 2006, were re-cryopreserved by vitrification. Of these, 26 (96%) re-expanded after warming and were transferred into 12 patients (15 cycles). Following transfer, the implantation rate was 35% (9/26) and the pregnancy rate was 47% (7/15). Two pregnancies ended in miscarriage, 5 healthy babies were born in 4 deliveries, and 1 pregnancy is ongoing. Our results suggest that re-cryopreservation by vitrification of human blastocysts developed from frozen-cleaved embryos can be performed without impairing their implantation ability after warming.

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