First Ten Deliveries from Vitrified Oocytes in Shaare Zedek

Introduction: Scarce information exists regarding the outcome of oocyte vitrification in Israel.

Aim: To describe our initial experience on thawing vitrified oocytes.

Materials & Methods: This retrospective single center analysis involves all cases of thawed oocytes that were previously vitrified.

Results: Oocytes of thirty-three women were vitrified for medical reasons at Shaare Zedek from the years 2012 through 2016. Mean age at vitrification was 35.2±7 (range 22-44). Medical indications for vitrification were negative testicular biopsy (12%), insufficient sperm cells for ICSI (27%), non-availability of sperm due to functional reasons on day of oocyte retrieval (30%), inability or refusal to provide a sperm sample due to egg retrieval prior to ritual bathing (mikveh, 24%) and logistical reasons (7%). The survival rate of oocytes post thawing was 63%. 27 of 31 women who had thawing at Shaare Zedek and seven had live births. Two additional women who transferred oocytes to another unit for use with donor sperm also had live births. Overall, the delivery rate per woman who had their oocytesthawed for medical reasons was 27%.

Five women who had oocyte vitrification for social reasons transferred their oocytes to other units for use with donor sperm. Mean age at vitrification was 38.2±1.5 (range 36-40). At present, one woman has delivered a live birth from use of these oocyte, two others did not, and two have not yet thawed all oocytes.

Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic report on the use of vitrified oocytes in Israel. Delivery rates are reasonable considering the heterogeneity of their clinical use.