Live birth after anonymous donation of twice-cryopreserved embryos that had been stored in liquid nitrogen for a cumulative storage time of approximately 13.5 years.
OBJECTIVE
To report a live birth after transfer of anonymously donated, twice-cryopreserved embryos that had been stored in liquid nitrogen for approximately 13.5 years.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
A private assisted reproduction center.


METHODS
A 44-year-old recipient of donated cryopreserved embryos.


METHODS
Anonymous donation of cryopreserved blastocysts for procreation.


METHODS
Live birth after thawing and replacement of re-cryopreserved blastocysts.


RESULTS
Fourteen pronuclear-stage embryos and four cleavage-stage embryos were cryopreserved during a primary IVF cycle. In two separate cycles, one cycle for the primary patient and a subsequent cycle for the first embryo donor recipient, the 18 embryos were thawed and grown to the blastocyst stage for transfer. Supernumerary blastocysts (n = 5) not replaced at either of these two thaw cycles were re-cryopreserved and subsequently donated to another embryo donor recipient. Five blastocysts survived the thaw and three were transferred, resulting in a live birth. The embryos were cryopreserved for a cumulative storage time of approximately 4,909 days (13.4 years).


CONCLUSIONS
The longevity (viability) of cryopreserved embryos maintained in liquid nitrogen remains to be determined; cryopreserved embryo donation for procreation should not be overlooked, regardless of the length of time that embryos remain in cryostorage.
Reed
Michael L
ML
Center for Reproductive Medicine of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106, USA. mleroyreed@yahoo.com
Hamic
Amanda
A
Caperton
Charles L
CL
Thompson
Douglas J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D000851:Anonyms and Pseudonyms; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D050498:Live Birth; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen; D018587:Oocyte Donation / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors
D009584:Nitrogen