Front Cover; Contents; Contributors; Preface; Color plates; 1 -- A Historical Overview of Embryo and Oocyte Preservation in the World of Mammalian In Vitro Fertilization and Biotechnology; 2 -- Principles of Cryopreservation; 3 -- The Rational Basis for Controlled Rate Slow Cooling; 4 -- Fundamentals and Current Practice of Vitrifi cation; 5 -- Predictive Models for the Development of Improved Cryopreservation Protocols for Human Oocytes; 6 -- The Natural Life Cycle of the Mammalian Oocyte; 7 -- Essential Features of the Mature Oocyte
Summary
Oocyte cryopreservation entails important potential advantages for human IVF, offering a less ethically disputable alternative to embryo cryopreservation, simplifying and making safer oocyte donation, and giving an opportunity for fertility preservation to women at risk of premature ovarian failure as an effect of genetic factors or chemo- or radiotherapies. Oocyte cryopreservation could also meet the expectations of women wishing to preserve their fertility for social reasons. In the last few years, advances in cryopreservation methodologies have dramatically improved the efficiency of oocyte
