How long can embryos be stored?
No one knows what the maximum storage period might be. Procedures for human embryo freezing were developed in 1984 and only went into widespread use in the late 1980’s. This means that the longest time a human embryo has been stored is 12-15 years, and typically, patients that have left embryos in storage for this long are not coming back for them. Some patients have come back after 10-12 years and the embryos have been thawed successfully. Beyond this time frame, we don’t know how long an embryo will remain viable. Back to the Top How are embryos thawed? The process of embryo freezing has already been explained. Thawing the embryos is simply a reversal of the freezing procedure. When an embryologist removes embryos from the freezer, a second embryologist is required to witness the act, and verify the identity of the embryos before they can be thawed. Under no circumstances can a lone embryologist remove embryos from the freezer. The embryos coming out of the freezer (at –1960C) are wa
With the rapid advances in reproductive medicine, cryopreserved or frozen embryos can remain viable, potentially, for an indefinite period of time. Pregnancies with good outcomes have been reported following thawing and transfer of embryos frozen for over a decade. Hundreds of healthy babies conceived from frozen embryos are born every year. And the numbers continue to increase. Excerpt from Fairfax Cryobank website http://www.fairfaxcryobank.com/emstorage.
With the rapid advances in reproductive medicine, cryopreserved or frozen embryos can remain viable, potentially, for an indefinite period of time. Pregnancies with good outcomes have been reported following thawing and transfer of embryos frozen for over a decade. Hundreds of healthy babies conceived from frozen embryos are born every year. And the numbers continue to increase.
