Disposition of Cryopreserved Gametes and Embryos

Cryopreservation allows patients and healthcare providers to preserve the reproductive potential of oocytes, sperm, and embryos and essentially, stop their biological clock. When patients begin infertility care or undergo fertility preservation, little time is available or given to the disposition of their cryopreserved gametes or embryos should they not use them for future family building. Infertility healthcare providers are obliged to discuss this issue with their patients before cryopreservation and throughout the cryo storage period. Decisions made regarding patient testing for infectious diseases prior to specimen cryopreservation may impact the disposition options for gametes. Patients are required to process a tremendous amount of information as they approach gamete or embryo cryopreservation. Patients may change their perspective or conceptualization of their cryopreserved specimens over time. A discussion about cryopreserved specimen disposition and documentation of the patient’s preferred, alternative disposition options is important, but the conversation should not be limited to pre-cryopreservation consent process. Centers providing cryopreservation services must establish a storage plan for their patients that they are capable of safely providing physically and supporting throughout the cryo storage period.