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Vitrification of human embryos subjected to blastomere biopsy for pre-implantation genetic screening produces higher survival and pregnancy rates than slow freezing

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Abstract

Purpose

Cryopreservation of blastocysts, especially those subjected to the trauma due to blastomere biopsy for the purposes of pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS), requires significant optimization. Laboratory and clinical outcomes were compared to determine the effect of two different cryopreservation techniques on the development of human pre-implantation embryos that underwent blastomere biopsy and blastocoel drainage prior to cryopreservation.

Design

Retrospective clinical study.

Patient(s)

Women who requested cryotransfer of supernumerary blastocysts were analyzed by FISH.

Results

The main outcome measures were post-thaw survival (SR), pregnancy (PR), and implantation (IR). The SR of slowly frozen blastocysts was 83% compared to 97% for vitrified blastocysts. In 160 cases where biopsied embryos were cryotransferred, the results for slowly frozen versus vitrified blastocysts were: SR (71% vs. 95%), PR (23% vs. 37%), and IR (26% vs. 36%, P < 0.05), respectively.

Conclusion

The results revealed that vitrified blastocysts provided higher SR, PR and IR as compared to slowly frozen counterparts.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sher Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Las Vegas, USA

    Levent Keskintepe, Geoffrey Sher, Anna Machnicka, Drew Tortoriello, Aykut Bayrak & Jeffrey Fisch

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, 5320 S. Rainbow Ste 300, Las Vegas, NV, 89118, USA

    Levent Keskintepe, Geoffrey Sher & Jeffrey Fisch

  3. Pathobiology Department, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO, USA

    Yuksel Agca

Authors
  1. Levent Keskintepe
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  2. Geoffrey Sher
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  3. Anna Machnicka
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  4. Drew Tortoriello
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  5. Aykut Bayrak
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  6. Jeffrey Fisch
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  7. Yuksel Agca
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Levent Keskintepe.

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Capsule

A reliable procedure for cryopreservation of blastocysts after preimplantation genetic screening is much needed. Transfer of ≤2 (1.4 ± 0.4) vitrified blastocysts after PGS yielded an implantation and ongoing pregnancy rate of 36% and 37%, respectively.

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Keskintepe, L., Sher, G., Machnicka, A. et al. Vitrification of human embryos subjected to blastomere biopsy for pre-implantation genetic screening produces higher survival and pregnancy rates than slow freezing. J Assist Reprod Genet 26, 629–635 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-009-9369-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-009-9369-8

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