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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Human Blastocyst Biopsy and Vitrification

Human Blastocyst Biopsy and Vitrification

Published on: July 26, 2019

Vitrified human day-7 blastocyst transfer: 11 cases.

Kenichiro Hiraoka¹, Megumi Fuchiwaki, Kaori Hiraoka

¹Kinutani Women's Clinic, 8-23-4F, Hondori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-0035, Japan. hiraoka@chive.ocn.ne.jp

Reproductive Biomedicine Online

|November 6, 2008

Summary

Successful pregnancies were achieved after vitrifying human day-7 blastocysts. This pioneering study demonstrates the viability of late-stage embryo cryopreservation for improving fertility outcomes.

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Morphometric Protocol for the Objective Assessment of Blastocyst Behavior During Vitrification and Warming Steps

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Last Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Human Blastocyst Biopsy and Vitrification

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Published on: July 26, 2019

Modified MicroSecure Vitrification: A Safe, Simple and Highly Effective Cryopreservation Procedure for Human Blastocysts

Modified MicroSecure Vitrification: A Safe, Simple and Highly Effective Cryopreservation Procedure for Human Blastocysts

Published on: March 2, 2017

Morphometric Protocol for the Objective Assessment of Blastocyst Behavior During Vitrification and Warming Steps

Morphometric Protocol for the Objective Assessment of Blastocyst Behavior During Vitrification and Warming Steps

Published on: February 28, 2019

Area of Science:

Reproductive Medicine
Embryology
Cryobiology

Background:

Vitrification is a rapid cryopreservation technique used for human embryos.
Day-7 blastocysts, while less common for transfer, represent a later stage of embryonic development.
Assessing the viability of vitrifying and transferring day-7 blastocysts is crucial for expanding fertility treatment options.

Observation:

A total of 16 human day-7 blastocysts were vitrified and subsequently warmed.
All vitrified blastocysts survived the warming process.
These embryos were transferred to 11 infertile patients.

Findings:

Clinical pregnancies were achieved in 6 out of 11 patients (55% success rate).
The implantation rate was 44% (7 out of 16 transferred blastocysts).
One healthy infant was delivered, two pregnancies resulted in miscarriage, and three are ongoing.

Implications:

This case report is the first to document successful pregnancies from vitrified human day-7 blastocysts.
It suggests that day-7 blastocysts can be effectively cryopreserved and utilized in assisted reproductive technologies.
This finding may enhance fertility treatment protocols by allowing for the use of more developed embryos.