[Medical Q&A] Will there be any impact on embryo cryopreservation?

Author: Zou Yaoyu Shanghai Ji'ai Genetics and Infertility Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University

Reviewer: Fu Jing, Chief Physician, Shanghai Ji'ai Genetics and Infertility Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University

Embryo freezing technology is a mature, safe and reliable assisted reproductive technology. Embryo freezing generally does not have a significant impact.

Embryo freezing is one of the common and mature operations in IVF cycles. Many parents worry about what will happen to their embryos when they return home. In fact, there is no need to worry. The embryos live in the "Guanghan Palace" (liquid nitrogen tank) at -198℃, where the "fairy air" lingers, and they maintain a metabolic state of stillness all year round, as if life has been paused. Under a certain temperature and resuscitation procedure, the embryo will wake up, re-enter the active state and be transplanted into the mother's uterus. The embryo nourished in the mother's uterus will further develop and grow and complete the implantation process, and will eventually become a fetus until birth.

A large number of studies have shown that the transplant success rate of frozen embryos is comparable to that of fresh embryos. Some data even show that the transplant success rate of frozen embryos is slightly higher than that of fresh embryos. This may be related to the more synchronous development of the endometrium and embryos during frozen embryo transplantation. Importantly, the birth defect rate of frozen embryos is not higher than that of fresh embryos. Therefore, embryo freezing is not only a safe technology, but also the best means to achieve fertility preservation, just like depositing a valuable fortune in a fertility bank that can be withdrawn at any time.