Human cleavage-stage embryo vitrification is comparable to slow-rate cryopreservation in cycles of assisted reproduction

OBJECTIVES: To compare embryo survival, pregnancy and implantation rates after cryopreservation of human cleavage-stage embryos with slow-rate cryopreservation or vitrification. STUDY DESIGN: 262 patients, attending for assisted reproduction, were prepared for oocyte retrieval using standard controlled ovarian hyperstimulation protocols. Excess embryos were cryopreserved on day 3 either by vitrification, or slow-rate cryopreservation in a programmable freezer. Cycles of thawing were monitored for thaw efficiency, pregnancy and implantation rates. RESULTS: Clinical pregnancy and implantation rates were highly comparable between cycles in which day 3 embryos were thawed either after slow-rate cryopreservation or vitrification. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that vitrification of human embryos during assisted reproduction cycles achieves comparable success rates to fresh cycles and therefore can be applied in the laboratory of assisted reproduction.