Oocyte Cryopreservation for the Elective Preservation of Reproductive Potential

Cryopreservation has been a technique used in reproductive endocrinology and infertility medicine since the early 1980s. Embryo cryopreservation, specifically, has been widely used in many in vitro fertilization (IVF) programs worldwide. This method has been well studied and is a common strategy employed for storing supernumerary embryos after IVF cycles, among other applications. Oocyte cryopreservation, which involves cryopreservation of unfertilized human ova, is a newer procedure that is gaining popularity due to its many benefits, including delay of childbearing, fertility preservation for cancer patients, and avoidance of ethical, religious or legal dilemmas surrounding embryo cryopreservation. While this technique is still considered “experimental,” oocyte cryopreservation is rapidly gaining acceptance in the field of fertility preservation. The current chapter discusses the multifaceted reasons for delayed childbearing, the applications of oocyte cryopreservation, and technical aspects of this procedure. Additionally, arguments are presented to counter the “experimental” label of oocyte cryopreservation and obstetric and perinatal outcome data are analyzed.