Shared Journey Your Path to Fertility A Guide to Getting Pregnant
Home
Getting Pregnant
IVF
IUI
Miscarriage
Male Infertility
Adoption
Success Stories
Fertility Directory
Shared Experiences
Infertility Definitions
Fertility News

 

 
Male Infertility Forums Fertility Experts


Home


Home | Help | Search | Login | Register Abbreviations
  Shared Journey Community
  Medical Reference
  Andrology & Embryology

  "shelf-life" of frozen embryos
« previous next »
Pages: [1] Reply | Notify of replies | Send the topic | Print 
   Author  Topic: "shelf-life" of frozen embryos  (Read 177 times)
teri-chan
Gold Member
*****

Offline

Posts: 97





View Profile | |
"shelf-life" of frozen embryos
« on: 01/17/07, 14:42 »
| Reply with quote

I'm just curious how long one has to use frozen embryos without substantially decreasing the chances of a healthy live birth resulting after thaw and transfer. (Has this "shelf-life" changed much over the years? Have freezing/thawing techniques improved over the years?)

Do you know the longest amount of time an embryo that has given rise to a healthy live birth has been frozen before being thawed and transferred?

Thanks.
Report to moderator   Logged
Dr Smith
Gold Member
*****

Offline

Posts: 1295





View Profile | WWW | E-Mail |
Re:"shelf-life" of frozen embryos
« Reply #1 on: 01/18/07, 09:34 »
| Reply with quote

Embryos do not have a "shelf life". As long as they remain frozen in liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees C), they will be fine.

Freezing and thawing techniques for Day 1 and Day 3 embryos have chaged little over the past 20 years. Blastocyst freezing has been around for about 15 years with the current (more successful technique) having been used for about 10 years.

There is a new technique on the horizon called vitrofication. Some people are using it now, but the jury is still out as to whether of not its better than the traditional methods. We'll see.

I recall reading a press release several years back of the a successful thawing, transfer and pregnancy resulting from embryos that had been frozen for 8 years. There may have been more recent reports with a longer period. 
Report to moderator   Logged
Pages: [1] Reply | Notify of replies | Send the topic | Print 
Jump to:

Shared Journey Community | Powered by Yabbse

Contact Us | About Us | Site Map | Fertility Forums | Add Your Link | Our Links