Fertility and Sterility
Volume 89, Issue 3 , Pages 523-528, March 2008

Researching human oocyte cryopreservation: ethical issues

  • Inmaculada de Melo-Martin, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Division of Medical Ethics, Department of Public Health, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Inmaculada de Melo-Martin, Ph.D., Division of Medical Ethics, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 411 East 69th Street, New York, NY 10021 (FAX: 212-746-8544).
    • ,
  • Ina N. Cholst, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Departments of Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York

Received 22 August 2006; received in revised form 9 March 2007; accepted 13 March 2007. published online 17 May 2007.

Objective

To evaluate some ethical concerns related to the selection of participants for oocyte cryopreservation research.

Design

Review of ethical issues related to human oocyte cryopreservation research.

Setting

Academic medical center.

Patient(s)

None.

Intervention(s)

None.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

A discussion of some ethical concerns surrounding selection of participants for oocyte cryopreservation research.

Result(s)

Human oocyte cryopreservation has the potential to expand reproductive options for infertile couples. Care needs to be taken, however, to carefully select participants in ways that maximizes benefits to them and to society and minimizes risks. Infertility programs can do so by trying to recruit women who stand to benefit the most from participating in oocyte cryopreservation protocols.

Conclusion(s)

Biomedical research is necessary to improve current medical therapies. Oocyte cryopreservation can increase the flexibility of assisted reproductive programs and offer hope to a significant number of infertile couples. Nonetheless, scientific research cannot be attentive only to the creation of new knowledge and new technologies; it also is inextricably tied to ethical considerations about the well-being of participants.

Key Words: Oocyte cryopreservation, ethics, research subjects, informed consent

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PII: S0015-0282(07)00658-9

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.03.039

Fertility and Sterility
Volume 89, Issue 3 , Pages 523-528, March 2008

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