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Vol 84, No 11 (2013)
ARTICLES
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Children born from frozen embryos stored for 10 years – analysis of 5 cases

Krzysztof Papis, Piotr Lewandowski, Jan Karol Wolski, Katarzyna Kozioł
DOI: 10.17772/gp/1669
·
Ginekol Pol 2013;84(11).

open access

Vol 84, No 11 (2013)
ARTICLES

Abstract

Faced with a scientific and legal debate on human embryo cryopreservation in Poland we show 5 documented clinical cases of successful thawing and transfer of embryos cryopreserved for a long period of time (8-11 years), resulting in successful delivery by the biological or the recipient mother. Cases described include patients with different infertility diagnoses, subjected to different hormonal stimulation treatments. Different oocyte fertilization methods were performed, and the obtained embryos were frozen after 2, 3 or 4 days of in vitro culture using methods employing various cryoprotective agents and freezing curves. As a result of performed thawing and transfer procedures normal, healthy babies were born. Our results are consistent with the international reports on successful long-term storage of embryos, (including the longest known period of over 19 years) resulting in no detectable reduction of the developmental potential after thawing. In light of data shown here, we do not see any medical or biological reasons for legally-regulated limitation of the period of frozen embryo storage. Moreover, if frozen, long-term stored embryos are not threatened by destruction band if prenatal adoption is a real, clinically documented option, we fail to see any reason for legal limitations of embryo cryopreservation in human infertility treatment.

Abstract

Faced with a scientific and legal debate on human embryo cryopreservation in Poland we show 5 documented clinical cases of successful thawing and transfer of embryos cryopreserved for a long period of time (8-11 years), resulting in successful delivery by the biological or the recipient mother. Cases described include patients with different infertility diagnoses, subjected to different hormonal stimulation treatments. Different oocyte fertilization methods were performed, and the obtained embryos were frozen after 2, 3 or 4 days of in vitro culture using methods employing various cryoprotective agents and freezing curves. As a result of performed thawing and transfer procedures normal, healthy babies were born. Our results are consistent with the international reports on successful long-term storage of embryos, (including the longest known period of over 19 years) resulting in no detectable reduction of the developmental potential after thawing. In light of data shown here, we do not see any medical or biological reasons for legally-regulated limitation of the period of frozen embryo storage. Moreover, if frozen, long-term stored embryos are not threatened by destruction band if prenatal adoption is a real, clinically documented option, we fail to see any reason for legal limitations of embryo cryopreservation in human infertility treatment.
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Keywords

in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET), Cryopreservation, Frozen Embryo Transfer

About this article
Title

Children born from frozen embryos stored for 10 years – analysis of 5 cases

Journal

Ginekologia Polska

Issue

Vol 84, No 11 (2013)

Page views

667

Article views/downloads

4510

DOI

10.17772/gp/1669

Bibliographic record

Ginekol Pol 2013;84(11).

Keywords

in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET)
Cryopreservation
Frozen Embryo Transfer

Authors

Krzysztof Papis
Piotr Lewandowski
Jan Karol Wolski
Katarzyna Kozioł

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