Abstract
Purpose: Our purpose was to compare an ultrarapid method (URM) modified with dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO) to a slow method (SM) with propanediol (PROH) for the cryopreservation of extra human embryos in a program of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Methods: The extra embryos of 160 patients were cryopreserved in a prospective and randomized manner (drawing lots) by a modified URM (3 M Me2SO/0.25 M sucrose/thawing in three sucrose gradients) (Group I) or by a SM )1.5 M Propanediol/program 0-Cryologic CL863) (Group II). A total of 103 cycles has been thawed thus far. The number of thawed cycles was 58 for group I and 45 for group II.
Results: The mean age (group I, 31.3 ± 4.5; group II, 31.9 ± 4.3) did not differ between the groups (P = 0.38). The number of frozen embryos (group I, 6.6 ± 3.2; group II, 6.5 ± 3.2) was similar (P = 0.49) for the two groups, as was the number of thawed embryos (P = 0.52) (group I, 6.5 ± 2.9; group II, 6.2 ± 3). The survival rate was higher (P < 0.01) for group II (83.3 ± 23%) than for group I (69.2 ± 28.7%). The cleavage rate was also higher (P < 0.01) for group II (56.8 ± 31%) compared with group I (24.2 ± 22.4%). The number of embryos transferred did not differ (P = 0.14) between the groups (group I, 3.16 ± 1.2; group II, 3.5 ± 1.0). The implantation rate (group I, 6.3%; group II, 13.8%) was significantly different between groups (P = 0.034). Pregnancy rates per thawed and transferred cycle were higher for group II (33.3 and 36.6%, respectively) compared with group I (13.8 and 16%, respectively), and these differences were significant (P = 0.03 and P = 0.03, respectively).
Conclusion: The data obtained suggest that the SM is superior to the URM for the cryopreservation of extra embryos after ICSI.
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Mauri, A.L., Petersen, C.G., Baruffi, R.L.R. et al. Clinical Assisted Reproduction: Comparison of the Cryopreservation of Human Embryos Obtained After Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection with a Slow Cooling or an Ultrarapid Cooling Procedure. J Assist Reprod Genet 18, 257–261 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016630721045
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016630721045