Cryopreservation, thawing, and transfer of human embryos. 2002

William Byrd
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9032, USA.

Cryopreservation of human embryos is a routine procedure in most assisted reproductive technology laboratories. Embryos can be successfully frozen at the pronuclear, multicellular (four to eight blastomeres), and blastocyst stages. Each laboratory has to determine which freezing protocol is best suited for its patients. Freezing protocols have been developed that utilize cryoprotective agents such as glycerol, propanediol, dimethylsulfoxide, and sucrose. The purpose of these cryoprotectants is to help reduce the formation of intracellular ice when using a slow cooling protocol to freeze the embryos. The two most common ways to freeze embryos utilize either low concentrations of cryoprotectants and a slow stepwise freeze or high concentrations of cryoprotectants and a rapid freeze. Frozen-thawed embryos can be transferred to naturally cycling women or to women who have been primed with hormone replacement treatment with equal success.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010064 Embryo Implantation Endometrial implantation of EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN at the BLASTOCYST stage. Blastocyst Implantation,Decidual Cell Reaction,Implantation, Blastocyst,Nidation,Ovum Implantation,Blastocyst Implantations,Decidual Cell Reactions,Embryo Implantations,Implantation, Embryo,Implantation, Ovum,Implantations, Blastocyst,Implantations, Embryo,Implantations, Ovum,Nidations,Ovum Implantations
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D004624 Embryo Transfer The transfer of mammalian embryos from an in vivo or in vitro environment to a suitable host to improve pregnancy or gestational outcome in human or animal. In human fertility treatment programs, preimplantation embryos ranging from the 4-cell stage to the blastocyst stage are transferred to the uterine cavity between 3-5 days after FERTILIZATION IN VITRO. Blastocyst Transfer,Tubal Embryo Transfer,Tubal Embryo Stage Transfer,Embryo Transfers,Transfer, Embryo,Transfers, Embryo
D004717 Endometrium The mucous membrane lining of the uterine cavity that is hormonally responsive during the MENSTRUAL CYCLE and PREGNANCY. The endometrium undergoes cyclic changes that characterize MENSTRUATION. After successful FERTILIZATION, it serves to sustain the developing embryo. Endometria
D005260 Female Females
D006358 Hot Temperature Presence of warmth or heat or a temperature notably higher than an accustomed norm. Heat,Hot Temperatures,Temperature, Hot,Temperatures, Hot
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015925 Cryopreservation Preservation of cells, tissues, organs, or embryos by freezing. In histological preparations, cryopreservation or cryofixation is used to maintain the existing form, structure, and chemical composition of all the constituent elements of the specimens. Cryofixation,Cryonic Suspension,Cryonic Suspensions,Suspension, Cryonic
D027724 Reproductive Techniques, Assisted Clinical and laboratory techniques used to enhance fertility in humans and animals. Reproductive Technology, Assisted,Assisted Reproductive Technics,Assisted Reproductive Techniques,Assisted Reproductive Technic,Assisted Reproductive Technique,Assisted Reproductive Technologies,Assisted Reproductive Technology,Reproductive Technic, Assisted,Reproductive Technics, Assisted,Reproductive Technique, Assisted,Reproductive Technologies, Assisted,Technic, Assisted Reproductive,Technics, Assisted Reproductive,Technique, Assisted Reproductive,Techniques, Assisted Reproductive,Technologies, Assisted Reproductive,Technology, Assisted Reproductive

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