[Vitrification of oocytes and embryos: the law, the results, the future]

The French bio ethical law published in 2004 did not authorize the transfer of embryos submitted to a research program, or even issued from gametes concerned by an experimentation. Vitrification process was still considered as an "experimental" technique; thus it was impossible to vitrify either oocytes or embryos, whereas numerous international studies emphasized the interest of this technique for both oocytes and embryos, in particular if they were vitrified at the blastocyst stage. The new revised law (7/7/2011), clearly authorizes oocyte vitrification; moreover, studies intended to improve ART efficiency, are now permitted, enabling vitrification of embryos.