Successful delivery after the transfer of twice-vitrified embryos derived from in vitro matured oocytes: a case report.
We report here the first case of successful pregnancy and delivery after the blastocyst transfer of twice-vitrified embryos produced following in vitro maturation (IVM) and ICSI. The patient received 5000 IU hCG on day 12 of the treatment cycle, and oocyte retrieval was carried out 36 h after hCG injection. A total of 22 immature oocytes were obtained. Following incubation for 26 h in IVM medium, 15 oocytes (68.2%) reached metaphase II stage. In total, 13 oocytes (86.7%) were fertilized after ICSI with the husband's sperm, and 11 embryos at the pronuclear stage and two cleaved embryos on day 2 were vitrified because of thin endometrial thickness. Eight cryopreserved embryos at the pronuclear stage were warmed and cultured until the day 3 stage. Three embryos were transferred, and three embryos were twice vitrified. Unfortunately, these transferred embryos did not implant. Three twice-vitrified embryos were rewarmed and cultured until the day 5 stage, and two embryos were transferred. The second transfer attempt of twice-vitrified embryos resulted in the full-term delivery of a healthy infant. This case report demonstrates that twice-vitrified embryos, developed using an IVM protocol, retain the developmental competence for full-term, healthy infants.
Hashimoto
S
S
IVF Namba Clinic, The Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Osaka, Japan. hashimoto@ivfnamba.com
Murata
Y
Y
Kikkawa
M
M
Sonoda
M
M
Oku
H
H
Murata
T
T
Sugihara
K
K
Nagata
F
F
Nakaoka
Y
Y
Fukuda
A
A
Morimoto
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D015925:Cryopreservation; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy