Disposition of cryopreserved embryos by infertility patients desiring to discontinue storage.
OBJECTIVE
To review our patients' decisions for disposition of their cryopreserved embryos and compare the findings with those reported in the scientific literature. Patients who no longer wish to store their cryopreserved embryos have three choices: discarding, donation to research, or donation to someone else for initiation of a pregnancy.


METHODS
Retrospective review of patient records from January 2002 to July 2007 to determine preferences for embryo disposition.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Patients who elected to discontinue embryo cryostorage.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Patients' decisions regarding embryo disposition, length of storage, treatment outcome, age at oocyte retrieval, and age at time of disposition.


RESULTS
A total of 149 disposition requests were reviewed, with 59% donating to scientific research, 38% discarding, and 3% donating to a known or anonymous person/couple for attempted pregnancy. There was no significant difference in the choice selected between patients who achieved a pregnancy with delivery compared with those who did not. Patient age at retrieval and at the time of disposition as well as the total time in storage was not significantly different between patients electing to discard and those donating to research.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients in our program wanting to discontinue cryostorage were more likely to request that their surplus embryos be used for scientific research.
Lanzendorf
Susan
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8513, Suite 3100, 4444 Forest Park Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63108, USA. lanzendorfs@wustl.edu
Ratts
Valerie
V
Keller
Sarah
S
Odem
Randall
R