Deciding What to do with Excess Cryopreserved Pre-Embryos

Virginia IVF and Andrology Center understands the sensitive nature of the existence of pre-embryos created through the in-vitro fertilization (IVF) process. In many cases, extra pre-embryos are created during a patient's in vitro cycle and some of these extra pre-embryos are cryopreserved for future pregnancy attempts. For various reasons, patients may decide that they no longer wish to store their pre-embryos for future use. Under these circumstances the patients have essentially three choices on what to do with their cryopreserved pre-embryos, once they have made the final decision not to personally use them. The following gives a brief explanation of the available choices:

1. Discard
   
   

   Many patients feel most comfortable having their pre-embryos discarded. Following receipt of the patient's consent, the IVF laboratory staff will remove the pre-embryos from the cryopreservation tank and discard them through our medical waste disposal process. Medical waste will ultimately be incinerated.

   Virginia IVF and Andrology Center neither encourages nor discourages discarding pre-embryos.

2. Donate to Research
   
   

   Some patients would like to have their pre-embryos donated for medical research. Often, patients have a desire to have their pre-embryos donated specifically for stem cell research. For stem cell research, pre-embryos would be thawed and grown to the blastocyst stage (around 6 days), at which time a group of cells that are destined to be the embryo would be removed from the blastocyst and cultured into stem cells. This technique destroys the developing embryo, thus this research does not allow prolonged pre-embryo development. Because of our nation's diversity in religious, moral and ethical beliefs, embryonic stem cell research is a highly sensitive issue. Although currently there is no law that prohibits stem cell research in the United States, the federal government prohibits the use of federal money for embryonic stem cell research. However, several states and private organizations are now supporting embryonic stem cell research.

   In addition to stem cell research, there a variety of potential important research studies for which pre-embryos can be used. It is Virginia IVF and Andrology Center's policy that no pre-embryo research can be performed without approval for that specific research protocol by an Institutional Review Board (IRB). An IRB is an independent body constituted of medical, scientific, and non-scientific members whose responsibility is to ensure the protection and rights, safety, and well-being of human subjects involved in a research study. Utilizing an IRB for pre-embryo research assures that the research is considered morally and ethically acceptable, and that any patient information is kept protected and anonymous.

   All Pre-embryos donated for research are stored at Virginia IVF and Andrology Center until such time as its IRB deems a research project acceptable.

   Virginia IVF and Andrology Center neither encourages nor discourages the donation of pre-embryos for research purposes.

3. Donate for Attempted Pregnancy
   
   

   Some patients would like to donate their pre-embryos to infertile patients who would like to attempt pregnancy. This donation process can be anonymous or directed.

   a. Anonymous Donation

   The Virginia IVF and Andrology Center has an anonymous pre-embryo donation program whereby patients who have donated their pre-embryos are matched to a recipient patient without the identity of either known to each other. If there are suitable numbers of pre-embryos for donation, the donating couple will be asked to provide their genetic information, which is reviewed by a genetic counselor. As of May 25, 2005, new regulations for pre-embryo donation have been enacted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In addition to extensive blood testing, donating couples will be asked to undergo a medical exam and be asked some specific medical history questions in order to eliminate the risk of disease transmission.

   b. Directed Donation

   Patients may wish to donate their pre-embryos to someone they know. This directed donation may be to a family member, a friend, or someone else to whom the donating couple may want to donate their pre-embryos . To donate pre-embryos, the donating couple will be asked to provide their genetic information, which is reviewed by a genetic counselor As of May 25, 2005, new regulations for pre-embryo donation have been enacted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In addition to extensive blood testing, donating couples will be asked to undergo a medical exam and be asked some specific medical history questions in order to eliminate the risk of disease transmission.

   There are several non-profit embryo donation agencies that assist donors and recipients in directed pre-embryo donation. For some patients, the idea that their offspring may end up living in proximity to them makes donation a difficult decision. If patients have these concerns, they may wish to utilize an embryo donation agency (at no cost to the donor) and donate their pre-embryos to a patient in another area of the country. Under such circumstances, the Virginia IVF and Andrology Center would ship the cryopreserved pre-embryos to a reputable IVF facility in that area, and the pre-embryos would be thawed and transferred to the recipient.

Virginia IVF and Andrology Center neither encourages nor discourages the donation of pre-embryos to anonymous or directed recipients.

Deciding what to do with remaining cryopreserved pre-embryos can be very difficult for patients. The Virginia IVF and Andrology Center encourages all patients to explore all possibilities. . We welcome you to obtain as much information as possible to make a meaningful and informed decision.

There is a wealth of information and advice regarding pre-embryo disposition available on the internet. Feel free to give us a call at 804-323-9980 if we can be of further assistance.