IVF treatment using intentionally vitrified and transported blastocysts obtained from donor cryo-egg bank may provide an efficient treatment option for recipients around the world

Abstract

Patients requiring donor eggs but living far from donor source may prefer to obtain treatment locally while still benefiting from the experience of a clinic with an established oocyte cryopreservation program. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the efficiency of IVF, when frozen sperm (of the recipient's partner) was shipped to the “Egg-Bank”, used to ICSI vitrified-warmed donor eggs, and the resulting embryos were vitrified and shipped back to the recipient location thus ready to be warmed and transferred. Longitudinal observational study. Oocytes were obtained from appropriately screened and tested donors using a GnRH antagonist protocol. Eggs were vitrified at the MII stage. Selected eggs were warmed 3 hours prior to ICSI. Embryos that developed to blastocyst stage were vitrified and shipped in vapor phase nitrogen. Two hours after warming, embryos were hatched and transferred to recipients who had received standard, medicated endometrial preparation. A total of 141 eggs were warmed from 16 donors (age: 26.4 ± 2.7). Mean age of the 19 recipients was 41.1 ± 3.6.Tabled 1Number (%)Mean ± SDNo. Recipients19No. Oocytes survived (%)129 (91.4)6.8 ± 2.6No. Oocytes fertilized (%)102 (79.0)5.4 ± 1.5No. Blastocysts (%)74 (72.5)3.9 ± 1.5No.Embryos vitrified (%)72 (70.5)3.8 ± 1.5No. FET cycles12No. Embryos warmed and transferred211.75 ± 0.45No. Clinical pregnancies (%)6 (50.0)No. Implantations (%)11/21 (52.3) Open table in a new tab The study data demonstrate that recipients of donor eggs can be efficiently treated “long distance” by using the combination of 1, cryopreserved donor eggs; 2, ICSI with shipped frozen/thawed sperm; 3, vitrified embryos shipped back to recipient location and 4, warming and transferring embryos to recipients. Improvements in cryopreservation technology now seem to substantiate the condition whereby recipients can obtain an efficient and more comfortable treatment anywhere in the world without the expense and inconvenience of long distance travel.