Embryo & Egg Storage

Patients on Assisted Reproductive Technology treatment can store excess good quality embryos after transfer. These embryos are in excess to the number used for transfer. Embryos are frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen at -1960C. Embryos are frozen on Day 2 or Day 3 after egg collection.

Only embryos that have undergone cell division normally with few fragmentations and have normal morphology are selected for freezing, since experience has shown that embryos of poor quality are unsuitable for transfer after they have been thawed.. Blastocysts are embryos that have progressed till Day 5, excess blastocysts remaining after transfer can be frozen and stored.

If pregnancy does not occur in a stimulated cycle the frozen embryos may be thawed and transferred in a later cycle.

Legislation in South Australia regulating IVF units, permits the storage of embryos for a maximum of ten years. Storage of frozen embryos will cease in the following circumstances:

• Upon their use in future treatment cycles.
• Upon written directive from the patient/s.
• If both members of a couple or a single woman for whom the embryo is stored die, any reasonable prior directives from them/her will be followed. If no directives exist the embryo will be disposed of.
• If a dispute arises between the members of a couple for whom the embryo is stored, and either person requests continued storage, the embryo will be kept in storage until the dispute is resolved or until the maximum storage period has lapsed.
• Donation of the embryos to another infertile couple, except where embryo is created from donated genetic material ie. sperm or egg donor. (This can be discussed with FRM clinic staff in order to explore options and potential recipients)

If you store embryos, under FRM policy you have the right to review consent for continuing storage at intervals of 12 months. The clinic will give written notice of that right of review at least 90 days before each anniversary date on which you gave the consent for storage.

Please keep the clinic informed of any changes of address or telephone numbers

Eggs

At Flinders Reproductive Medicine egg storage is not offered, however, if after egg collection

• The male partner is unable to provide semen sample on the day
• or the lab is unable to find any viable sperm in the semen sample
• or unable to find viable sperm from surgically retrieved testicular tissue.

Under these exceptional circumstances eggs can be frozen and stored, however the survival post thaw of these eggs is not guaranteed (in our experience). Currently the lab cannot perform the process of fertilization in vitro of thawed eggs.

According to FRM policy, the maximum length of egg storage is ten years, however egg storage will be discontinued prior to this:

• Upon written directive from the patient/s
• Upon any possible future use in an ART treatment
• If both members of a couple or a single woman for whom the egg is stored die.
• If a dispute arises between the members of a couple for whom the egg is stored, and either person requests continued storage, the egg will be kept in storage until the dispute is resolved or until the maximum storage period has lapsed.

If you store eggs, under the FRM policy you have the right to review consent for continuing storage at intervals of 12 months. The clinic will give written notice of that right of review at least 90 days before each anniversary date on which you gave the consent for storage.

Please keep the clinic informed of any changes of address or telephone numbers

Storage Pre-Requisites

Prior to storage an appointment is made with the clinic to:

• Discuss the information sheet
• Discuss the reason for requesting storage and future treatment options
• Sign Consent Form – Storage of Reproductive Material
• Check blood screening tests are up to date. If any communicable diseases (eg. Hepititis B & C, HIV ) are detected, further discussion regarding storage may be necessary.