Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026
Modified MicroSecure Vitrification: A Safe, Simple and Highly Effective Cryopreservation Procedure for Human Blastocysts
Published on: March 2, 2017
Cryopreservation of day 2-3 embryos by vitrification yields better outcome than slow freezing
Jacob Levron1, Oshrit Leibovitz, Masha Brengauz
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IVF Unit, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel; affiliated to Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel.
Objective:
To compare the outcome of vitrification versus slow freezing cryopreservation for cleavage stage day 2-3 embryos.
Design:
A retrospective observational study.
Setting:
All thawed embryos assisted reproduction cycles between January 2010 and December 2012 at a single IVF laboratory of a Tertiary Medical Center.
Patients:
Five hundred and thirty-nine cycles of day 2-3 thawed embryos.
Interventions:
In 327 of the thawed cycles, the embryos were vitrified and in 212 of the cycles the embryos were derived from slow freezing embryos.
Main Outcomes Measure:
Embryo survival rate, blastomere surviving rate and pregnancy rate.
Results:
Embryo survival rate was significantly higher after vitrification compared with slow freezing (81.6%, 647/793 versus 70.0%, 393/562 embryos, p < 0.0001). The clinical pregnancy rate per ET was significantly higher following vitrification compared to slow freezing, 20.0%, 63/314 versus 11.9%, 23/193, respectively (p = 0.02).
Conclusions:
Vitrification of day 2-3 cleavage stage embryos yields better cycle outcome in all the parameters compared to slow freezing.
Related Concept Videos
01:57Meiosis II
01:24In Vitro Fertilization
The IVF process begins with ovarian stimulation, during which reproductive endocrinologists prescribe hormonal medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs instead of the single...