Vitrification in Assisted Reproduction: A User’s Manual

Advances in technology now offer promising solutions to deal with the chronological aging of the cell, tissue or organ to synchronize its existence and its use. This book covers the developments in and benefits of the latest vitrification technology and its extensive applications in reproductive medicine. Protocols of gametes (oocyte and sperm), embryos, blastocysts and ovarian tissue cryopreservation have been reviewed by leaders in the field. In order to address the escalation in cross-border reproductive tourism entailing the transfer of reproductive cells and tissues rather than the patient, the challenges, caution and emerging possibilities of nitrogen vapor shipment of vitrified cells have been discussed. Current perspectives on oocyte banking present the reader with options and solutions to effectively utilize these gametes despite the physiological deterrents.The versatile applications and potential of vitrification of human embryonic stem cells, discussed in the concluding chapter, is an exciting reality offered by vitrification to help overcome numerous stumbling blocks in the management of various disorders.

Dr. Gautam N Allahbadia, MD is the Medical Director of Rotunda -The Center for Human Reproduction, the world-renowned infertility clinic at Bandra, and Rotunda-Blue Fertility Clinic and Keyhole Surgery Center, Mumbai, India. He cherishes over 125 peer-reviewed publications, 134 book chapters and 22 textbooks, the latest being a comprehensive text, entitled "Minimal Stimulation IVF", and is on the Editorial Board of several International Journals. He just completed a two year tenure as Medical Director at the New Hope IVF Clinic, Sharjah, UAE where he introduced IVF Lite to the country. Dr. Allahbadia has recently been elected as the Vice President of the World Association of Reproductive Medicine (WARM), headquartered in Rome, and “Mumbai’s Top Doc” for 2012 by a peer nomination process.

Dr. Masashige Kuwayama is currently the Head of Repro-support Medical Research Centre, developing and providing new technologies in the field of Assisted Reproduction including vitrification25,000 IVF cycles per year. In his ART laboratory, 13 scientists and 55 embryologists were working to develop new ARTs and for the patients. An editor of RBM Online, has 98 scientific papers and 330 papers in the scientific conferences. . He has introduced several novel procedures to vitrify oocytes and embryos, including the Cryotop, Cryotip and now the latest Cryotec method.

Dr. Goral Gandhi is the Laboratory Director at Rotunda – The Center for Human Reproduction. Goral has over 18 years of clinical embryology and has successfully set up many IVF laboratories all over India and is constantly committed to maintain exceptional success rates at all the laboratories. Over the past four years, Goral has taught her vitrification skills to over a hundred physicians and embryologists from over 15 countries. She has contributed numerous papers in both national and international journals. She has also contributed chapters to many textbooks.