Semin Reprod Med 2005; 23(4): 325-335
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-923390
Copyright © 2005 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Cryopreservation in Assisted Reproductive Technology: New Trends

Frank Nawroth1 , Gohar Rahimi2 , Eugenia Isachenko3 , Vladimir Isachenko3 , Maike Liebermann4 , Michael J. Tucker5 , 6 , Juergen Liebermann6
  • 1Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Gynecologic Endocrinology, Endokrinologikum Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
  • 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
  • 3Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
  • 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
  • 5Georgia Reproductive Specialists, Atlanta, Georgia
  • 6Fertility Centers of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
29 November 2005 (online)

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ABSTRACT

During the last few years, cryopreservation has become a relevant addition to therapeutic concepts in reproductive medicine. New data and publications have made it difficult to maintain an overview of all of the new developments and their results. The focus of interest more recently, especially with the cryopreservation of human oocytes and human ovarian tissue, has been vitrification as an interesting alternative to slow freezing methods. Even though studies investigating the slow freezing of human mature oocytes have resulted in very different survival rates, it could be an option for donor oocyte programs, in the case of threatened ovarian loss or when there is an objection to embryo freezing. An optimal freezing protocol and later use of thawed human ovarian tissue is still a point of discussion. There are encouraging results regarding different kinds of autotransplantation, and recently the first birth after orthotopic autotransplantation of cryopreserved/thawed human ovarian tissue was described in the literature. Independent of any objections to cryopreservation in general, vitrification is a potential and effective alternative to conventional slow cryopreservation, especially for oocytes and embryos. Vitrification might be also be an option for human ovarian tissue; however this is only in its infancy and requires much additional investigation. Our article discusses new trends and results of actual studies regarding these issues.

REFERENCES

 Dr.
Frank Nawroth

Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Gynecologic Endocrinology, Endokrinologikum Hamburg, Lornsenstrasse 4-6, 22767 Hamburg, Germany

Email: Frank.Nawroth@Endokrinologikum.com