1. The Cryopreservation of Human Embryos(Papers presented at the 36th Annual Meeting, April, 1990, Tokyo)

Abstract

This paper consists of a general review of the cryopreservation of human embryos in IVF program and a case report of the first live birth in Japan after the intrauterine transfer of frozen-thawed embryos on the 25th of December 1989, which has been already reported by the author, Rui Aoki. The general review covers (1) principles of cryobiology, (2) comparison of cryoprotectants, (3) rapid, ultra-rapid, and slow freezing and thawing methods, (4) vitrification, and (5) synchronization of the embryos and endometrial milieu. The authors discuss a possible method for investigating the receptivity of hyperstimulated endometrium in comparison with non-stimulated one by using both fresh and frozen-thawed embryos transferred in different menstrual cycles.