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Cryopreservation of embryos: Medical, ethical, and legal issues

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Conclusion

The option of cryopreservation has proven to be an extraordinarily useful procedure in assisted reproductive technology. At present, the best programs report an ∼90% survival rate of cryopreserved material. Furthermore, the pregnancy rate per thawed embryo transfer approximates the pregnancy rate of fresh embryo transfer. It is obviously of the utmost importance that these excellent results not be overshadowed by neglect of the problems of cryopreservation. IVF programs should put emphasis on ethical and legal issues: otherwise there is a danger that the advantages of cryopreservation will be lost.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel

    Sozos J. Fasouliotis & Joseph G. Schenker

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  1. Sozos J. Fasouliotis
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  2. Joseph G. Schenker
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Fasouliotis, S.J., Schenker, J.G. Cryopreservation of embryos: Medical, ethical, and legal issues. J Assist Reprod Genet 13, 756–761 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02066493

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