Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pregnancies after transfer of ultrarapidly frozen human embryos

  • Clinical Assisted Reproduction
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose: We report our experience of freezing human embryos using an ultrarapid freezing method.

Methods: The patients were superovulated. Oocytes were inseminated and cultured in HTF + 10% serum. A maximum of three embryos was transferred and the rest of the embryos were frozen ultrarapidly after a 3-min equilibration period in PB1 + 3.5 MDMSO + 0.25 Msucrose. Embryos were thawed in a 37°C water bath for 6 sec, then cultured in PB1 + 20% serum for 10 min. The surviving embryos were transferred into patients on the same day of thawing.

Results: Sixty-three embryos were thawed. of which 52 embryos (83%) survived with at least one intact blastomere. Nineteen frozen-thawed embryo transfers were made. The mean embryos per transfer was 2.7. Three pregnancies (16%/transfer) were established. One miscarriage occurred in the eighth week of pregnancy. Two pregnancies went to term and three healthy infants were born.

Conclusions: The present data demonstrate that ultrarapid freezing is a method worth consideration in the area of human embryo freezing.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Steptoe PC, Edwards RG: Birth after the preimplantation of a human embryo. Lancet 1978;12:366

    Google Scholar 

  2. Trounson A, Mohr L: Human pregnancy following cryopreservation, thawing and transfer of an eight-cell embryo. Nature 1983;305:707–709

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Lassalle B, Testart J, Renard JP: Human embryo features that influence the success of cryopreservation with the use of 1,2-propanediol. Fertil Steril 1985;44:645–651

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Testart J, Lassalle B, Belaisch-Allart J, Hazout A, Forman R, Rainhorn JD, Frydman R: High pregnancy rate after early human embryo freezing. Fertil Steril 1986;46:268–272

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Cohen J, Simons RF, Edwards RG, Fehilly CB, Fishel SB: Pregnancies following the frozen storage of expanding human blastocysts. J Vitro Fert Embryo Transfer 1985;2:59–64

    Google Scholar 

  6. Mandelbaum J, Junca AM, Plachot M, Alnot MO, Salat-Babous J, Alvares S, Tibi C, Cohen J, Debache C, Tesquier L: Cryopreservation of human embryos and oocytes. Hum Reprod 1988;3:117–119

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Rall WF, Fahy GM: Ice-free cryopreservation of mouse embryos at −196°C by vitrification. Nature 1985;313:573–575

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Trounson A, Peura A, Kirby C: Ultrarapid freezing: A new low-cost and effective method of embryo cryopreservation. Fertil Steril 1987;48:843–850

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Shaw JM, Trounson AO: Effect of dimethyl sulfoxide and protein concentration on the viability of two-cell mouse embryos frozen with a rapid freezing technique. Cryobiology 1989;26:413–421

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Wilson L, Quinn P: Development of mouse embryos cryopreserved by an ultra-rapid method of freezing. Hum Reprod 1989;4:86–90

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Lai AC-H, Ryan JP, Saunders DM: Ultrarapid cryopreservation of mouse oocytes and embryos: Effect of cell stage and culture in vitro. Assist Reprod Tech Androl 1990;1:320–330

    Google Scholar 

  12. Shaw JM, Diotallevi L, Trounson AO: A simple rapid 4.5 M dimethylsulfoxide freezing technique for the cryopreservation of one-cell to blastocyst stage preimplantation mouse embryos. Reprod Fertil Dev 1991;3:621–626

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Vasuthevan S, Ng S-C, Bongso A, Ratnam SS: Embryonic behavior of two-cell mouse embryos frozen by the one- and two-step ultrrapid techniques. J Assist Reprod Genet 1992;9:545–550

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Trounson A, Peura A, Freemann L, Kirby C: Ultrarapid freezing of early cleavage stage human embryos and eight-cell mouse embryos. Fertil Steril 1988;49:822–826

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Trounson A, Sjoblom P: Cleavage and development of human embryos in vitro after ultrarapid freezing and thawing. Fertil Steril 1988;50:373–376

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Trounson AO: Cryopreservation. Br Med Bull 1990;46:695–708

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Gordts S, Roziers P, Campo R, Noto V: Survival and pregnancy outcome after ultrarapid freezing of human embryos. Fertil Steril 1990;53:469–472

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Barg PE, Feichtinger W: Ultrarapid freezing of mouse and human embryos: A modified approach. J Vitro Fert Embryo Transfer 1990;6:355–357

    Google Scholar 

  19. Feichtinger W, Hochfellner C, Ferstl U: Clinical experience with ultrarapid freezing of embryos. Hum Reprod 1991;6:735–736

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Quinn P, Warnes GM, Kerin JF, Kirby C: Culture factors affecting the success rate of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Ann NY Acad Sci 1985;442:195–203

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Society ART, American Society for Reprod Med: Assisted reproductive technology in the United States and Canada: 1993 results generated from the American Society for Reproductive Technology Registry. Fertil Steril 1995;64:13–21

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Shaw JM, Kola I, MacFarlane DR, Trounson AO: An association between chromosomal abnormalities in rapidly frozen 2-cell mouse embryos and ice-forming properties of the cryoprotective solution. J Reprod Fertil 1991;91:9–18

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Anderson Hospital, 157 Shin-Tai Road, Shin-Chwang City, Taipei County, 242 Taiwan

    Andrew C. -H. Lai

  2. China Medical College Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

    Andrew C. -H. Lai, Balance P. H. Lin, Chih C. Chang, Horng D. Tsai, Vincent W. S. Hwang & Hui Y. Lo

Authors
  1. Andrew C. -H. Lai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Balance P. H. Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chih C. Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Horng D. Tsai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Vincent W. S. Hwang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Hui Y. Lo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lai, A.C.H., Lin, B.P.H., Chang, C.C. et al. Pregnancies after transfer of ultrarapidly frozen human embryos. J Assist Reprod Genet 13, 625–628 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02069640

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02069640

Key words

Search

Navigation