[The destiny of cryopreserved embryos].
OBJECTIVE
To know the psychological motivations of couples who keep their embryos so long (five years and more) and do not make a decision about them.


METHODS
We studied 84 couples refrained from making a decision on their cryopreserved embryos for at least five years. They were invited to fill out a questionnaire focusing on three points: the reasons of the indecision, their own representation of the cryopreserved embryos and their choice for the future: donation to another couple, to research, pregnancy or no solution for the moment.


RESULTS
Mean (S.D.) women's and men's age were respectively, 38.8 (2.5)- and 41.3 (2.5)-years old. On average, three (1-9) embryos are preserved since 7.5 (5-12) years. Most of couples are parents. Four major reasons explain their attitudes: feeling of being too aged (25%), fear of a multiple pregnancy (45%), disagreement between members of couple (20%) and fear of failure (42.5%). Multiple choices were given to the future of the embryos: 25% wanted a pregnancy, 8% wanted to give them to infertile couples, 20% to research and 27.5% did not find any solution. Twenty percent were hesitating. The representation of those embryos is more symbolic than material. Most of the time, they see them like a potential child, a hope for the future or a brother or sister of their alive children.


CONCLUSIONS
Those embryos are symbolized. They are a proof of fertility, a hope for another child. So, whatever the legal statement, couples will be in a dilemma because it is never easy for an infertile person to renounce to embryos, and the hope for children.
Karpel
L
L
Unité d'assistance médicale à la procréation, service de gynécologie-obstétrique, hôpital Antoine-Béclère, 157, rue de la Porte-de-Trivaux, 92141 Clamart, France. lea.karpel@abc.aphp.fr
Achour-Frydman
N
N
Frydman
R
R
Flis-Trèves
M
M
D000328:Adult; D015925:Cryopreservation; D003657:Decision Making; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement