Oocyte freezing

Embryos have been successfully frozen for over twenty years but due to biological differences between embryos and oocytes it is only within the last five years that oocyte freezing has become a reality. Using a different freezing method called vitrification oocytes have been frozen, thawed, fertilized and resultant pregnancies obtained. Because of the recent development of vitrification the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has recommended that all oocyte freezing be considered experimental and performed under an Institutional Review Board (IRB). The Fertility Center has an University of Louisville IRB approved protocol in place for oocyte freezing and it is available to all our patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).