Clinical outcomes resulting from the transfer of vitrified human embryos using a new device for cryopreservation (plastic blade)

• DOI: 10.1007/s10815-010-9390-y
• Publication Date: 2010-02-01T05:49:16Z
• Authors: Rikikazu Sugiyama; Koji Nakagawa; Asako Shirai; Rie Sugiyama; Yayoi Nishi; Yasushi Kuribayashi; Masato Inoue
• Keywords: Vitrification

We attempted clinical application of a plastic blade, which is a novel cryopreservation device, for vitrification of human embryos and blastocysts.Between February 2003 and December 2007, a total of 4,430 Day 3 embryos from 898 patients (Day 3 group) and 55 blastocysts from 29 patients (blastocyst group) were vitrified and cryopreserved with a plastic device, and subsequently thawed for embryo transfer. Clinical outcomes after thawing and transfer of vitrified embryos and blastocysts were evaluated.In the Day 3 group, all embryos resulting from 1,441 oocyte retrieval cycles were recovered, and the thawed embryo survival rate was 98.4%. In the blastocyst group, the survival rate after thawing was 100%. A total of 3,026 day 3 embryos and 46 blastocysts were transferred. The pregnancy and implantation rates in the Day 3 group were 25.0% and 15.5%, respectively, and in the blastocyst group the rates were 24.2% and 26.1%, respectively. The miscarriage rates in the Day 3 and blastocyst groups were 18.3% and 50.0%, respectively.A plastic blade is a useful novel device in cryopreservation of vitrified human embryos.