Role of Cryopreservation in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

Sperm, embryo & Oocyte Cryopreservation are important adjuncts to Assisted Reproductive technologies (ART) such as In- vitro - fertilization (IVF), Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and Intrauterine insemination (IUI). Cryopreservation has got significant role to play in patients with cancer who are too young to have started or completed their families. It has been decades since we started freezing sperm & embryo successfully and achieved pregnancies after the transfer of frozen thawed sperm by IUI and embryos in IVF program. Oocyte cryopreservation is the latest. The successess have been achieved, although, still very low and strategies are still being developed to preserve unfertilized mature oocytes successfully which can yield a good pregnancy rate. This has got a huge potential and can transform ART significantly.