In the mid-1980s, successful cryopreservation techniques were developed that allowed couples undergoing IVF-ET the option of freezing extra embryos for use at a later date, an option that most couples welcome. Approximately 400,000 embryos are cryopreserved in the United States, according to a report by the Society for Assisted Reproduction (SART) and the nonprofit research institution RAND. In the US, there are no legal limits on the length of time embryos can be stored and decisions on the continued storage are left up to the individual clinics.
Couples who elect to cryopreserve extra embryos may decide not to use them for a variety of reasons. They may have been successful on their initial try and have completed their families. Extraordinary circumstances, such as death, divorce or health problems, may arise that force them to change their plans. Finally, they may have depleted their financial resources.
Before embryos are cryopreserved the couple is required to sign an informed consent that outlines their choices for the disposition of the embryos in the event they are not used. A typical consent would include the following options:
- Thaw the embryos without intent to transfer
- Donate the embryos to research
- Donate the embryos to another couple (laws vary from state to state)
- Continue to store the embryos for a fee, until they can decide what to do with them
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