Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cryopreservation of Human Embryos

  • Published:
Cell and Tissue Banking Aims and scope Submit manuscript

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

Cryopreservation of human embryos from the 2-cell stage up to the morula stage is a safe procedure which has been carried out for the last 25 years. Experience with blastocyst cryopreservation is still limited and pregnancy rates after the use of frozen, thawed blastocysts vary extremely. Vitrification has improved the success of embryo cryopreservation. However, this technique cannot yet be considered as a routine procedure. Despite all of the advantages for infertile couples, cryopreservation of human embryos creates severe ethical problems, because of surplus frozen embryos which either have to be destroyed or perhaps used for research. Embryo adoption may provide a solution to solve imminent medical, ethical and social problems.

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

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameASRM (2002) ArticleTitleDonating spare embryos for embryonic stem-cell research Fertil. Steril. 78 957–960 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0015-0282(02)04234-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • H. Balakier O. Cabaca D. Bouman A.B. Shewchuk C. Laskin J.A. Squire (2000) ArticleTitleSpontaneous blastomere fusion after freezing and thawing of early human embryos leads to polyploidy and chromosomal mosaicism Hum. Reprod. 15 2404–2410 Occurrence Handle11056142 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M%2FmtVahsQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1093/humrep/15.11.2404

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • B. Behr J. Gebhardt J. Lyon A.A. Milki (2002) ArticleTitleFactors relating to a successful cryopreserved blastocyst transfer program Fertil. Steril. 77 697–699 Occurrence Handle11937118 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0015-0282(01)03267-8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • A. Bongso N.S. Chye H. Sathananthan L. Mui-Nee H. Mok P.C. Wong S. Ratnam (1988) ArticleTitleChromosome analysis of two-cell mouse embryos frozen by slow and ultrarapid methods using two different cryoprotectants Fertil. Steril. 49 908–912 Occurrence Handle3360182 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL1c7ps1Gjtg%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J. Cohen R.F. Simons R.G. Edwards C.B. Fehilly S.B. Fishel (1985) ArticleTitlePregnancies following the frozen storage of expanding human blastocysts J. In Vitro Fert. Embryo Transf. 2 59–64 Occurrence Handle4020239 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL2M3mtlahtQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF01139337

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • D.H. Edgar H. Bourne A.L. Speirs J.C. McBain (2000) ArticleTitleA quantitative analysis of the impact of cryopreservation on the implantation potential of human early cleavage stage embryos Hum. Reprod. 15 175–179 Occurrence Handle10611209 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c%2FnvFaisQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1093/humrep/15.1.175

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameESHRE (2001) ArticleTitleThe cryopreservation of human embryos Hum. Reprod. 16 1049–1050 Occurrence Handle10.1093/humrep/16.5.1049

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • F. Guerif R. Bidault V. Cadoret M.L. Couet J. Lansac D. Royere (2002) ArticleTitleParameters guiding selection of best embryos for transfer after cryopreservation: a reappraisal Hum. Reprod. 17 1321–1326 Occurrence Handle11980759 Occurrence Handle10.1093/humrep/17.5.1321

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • G.M. Hartshorne K. Elder J. Crow H. Dyson R.G. Edwards (1991) ArticleTitleThe influence of in-vitro development upon post-thaw survival and implantation of cryopreserved human blastocysts Hum. Reprod. 6 136–141 Occurrence Handle1874946 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3MzktFSmtA%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • D.I. Hoffman G.L. Zellman C.C. Fair J.F. Mayer J.G. Zeitz W.E. Gibbons T.G. Turner SuffixJr. (2003) ArticleTitleCryopreserved embryos in the United States and their availability for research Fertil. Steril. 79 1063–1069 Occurrence Handle12738496 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0015-0282(03)00172-9

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • M.T. Langley D.M. Marek D.K. Gardner K.M. Doody K.J. Doody (2001) ArticleTitleExtended embryo culture in human assisted reproduction treatments Hum. Reprod. 16 902–908 Occurrence Handle11331636 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MvitlCktg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1093/humrep/16.5.902

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M.C. Magli L. Gianaroli D. Fortini A.P. Ferraretti S. Munne (1999) ArticleTitleImpact of blastomere biopsy and cryopreservation techniques on human embryo viability Hum. Reprod. 14 770–773 Occurrence Handle10221712 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M3js12jsw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1093/humrep/14.3.770

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Y. Menezo B. Nicollet N. Herbaut D. Andre (1992) ArticleTitleFreezing cocultured human blastocysts Fertil. Steril. 58 977–980 Occurrence Handle1426385 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3s%2FltVemtQ%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • G. Moutel E. Gregg J.P. Meningaud C. Herve (2002) ArticleTitleDevelopments in the storage of embryos in France and the limitations of the laws of bioethics. Analysis of procedures in 17 storage centres and the destiny of stored embryos Med. Law 21 587–604 Occurrence Handle12437205

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • T. Mukaida S. Nakamura T. Tomiyama S. Wada C. Oka M. Kasai K. Takahashi (2003a) ArticleTitleVitrification of human blastocysts using cryoloops: clinical outcome of 223 cycles Hum. Reprod. 18 384–391 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3s%2Fosl2itA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1093/humrep/deg047

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • T. Mukaida K. Takahashi M. Kasai (2003b) ArticleTitleBlastocyst cryopreservation: ultrarapid vitrification using cryoloop technique Reprod. Biomed. Online 6 221–225 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S1472-6483(10)61713-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • W.F. Rall G.M. Fahy (1985) ArticleTitleIce-free cryopreservation of mouse embryos at −196 degrees C by vitrification Nature 313 573–575 Occurrence Handle3969158 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL2M7htFWktA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1038/313573a0

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J.M. Shaw I. Kola D.R. MacFarlane A.O. Trounson (1991) ArticleTitleAn association between chromosomal abnormalities in rapidly frozen 2-cell mouse embryos and the ice-forming properties of the cryoprotective solution J. Reprod. Fertil. 91 9–18 Occurrence Handle1995866 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3MXktVCmu7k%3D Occurrence Handle10.1530/jrf.0.0910009

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • W.Y. Son S.H. Yoon H.J. Yoon S.M. Lee J.H. Lim (2003) ArticleTitlePregnancy outcome following transfer of human blastocysts vitrified on electron microscopy grids after induced collapse of the blastocoele Hum. Reprod. 18 137–139 Occurrence Handle12525454 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXms1Ghtg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1093/humrep/deg029

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • C. Staessen A. Van Steirteghem (1998) ArticleTitleThe genetic constitution of multinuclear blastomeres and their derivative daughter blastomeres Hum. Reprod. 13 1625–1631 Occurrence Handle9688403 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1czltFKruw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1093/humrep/13.6.1625

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A. Trounson L. Mohr (1983) ArticleTitleHuman pregnancy following cryopreservation, thawing and transfer of an eight-cell embryo Nature 305 707–709 Occurrence Handle6633637 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL2c%2FjvFOltw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1038/305707a0

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A. Trounson P. Sjoblom (1988) ArticleTitleCleavage and development of human embryos in vitro after ultrarapid freezing and thawing Fertil. Steril. 50 373–376 Occurrence Handle3396707 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL1c3otl2ktA%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A.D. Vieira A. Mezzalira D.P. Barbieri R.C. Lehmkuhl M.I. Rubin G. Vajta (2002) ArticleTitleCalves born after open pulled straw vitrification of immature bovine oocytes Cryobiology. 45 91–94 Occurrence Handle12445553 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XoslSmsrs%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0011-2240(02)00109-8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • W.B. Wennerholm (2000) ArticleTitleCryopreservation of embryos and oocytes: obstetric outcome and health in children Hum. Reprod. 15 IssueIDSuppl 5 8–25

    Google Scholar 

  • I. Wilmut (1972a) ArticleTitleThe effect of cooling ratewarming ratecryoprotective agent and stage of development on survival of mouse embryos during freezing and thawing Life Sci. II 11 1071–1079 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE3sXlsFygsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/0024-3205(72)90215-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • I. Wilmut (1972b) ArticleTitleThe low temperature preservation of mammalian embryos J. Reprod. Fertil. 31 513–514 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaE3s7isVyrsg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1530/jrf.0.0310513

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • E.C. Wood (1988) ArticleTitleThe future of in vitro fertilization Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 541 715–721 Occurrence Handle3058004 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL1M%2FmtV2iug%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Goettingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, D-37075 , Goettingen, Germany

    H. W. Michelmann

  2. Department of Reproductive Biology, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, D-37077, Goettingen, Germany

    P. Nayudu

Authors
  1. H. W. Michelmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. Nayudu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. W. Michelmann.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Michelmann, H.W., Nayudu, P. Cryopreservation of Human Embryos. Cell Tissue Banking 7, 135–141 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10561-005-0877-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10561-005-0877-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation