[Application of vitrification to human assisted reproduction]

Vitrification, as a cryoprotective method for freezing cells or tissues at very high cooling rates, can avoid the formation of intracellular ice crystals that are potentially lethal during freezing and thawing, and maximally reduce the damage to cells. Considerable progress has been achieved in the cryopreservation of human gametes and embryos. Vitrification has been used to successfully cryopreserve immature and mature oocytes, spermatozoa and embryos at various developmental stages in the last decade, and has led to the birth of many healthy babies. Vitrification, with its simple operation and rapid process, is becoming one of the important techniques in human assisted reproduction.