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Document Overview

Design and created by Guideline Central in participation with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Mature Oocyte Cryopreservation

American Society for Reproductive Medicine

Publication Date: Jan 1, 2013

Page Last Updated: May 5, 2026

American Society for Reproductive Medicine Quality and Strength of Evidence

Quality of the Evidence
Level	Definition
I	Evidence obtained from at least one properly designed randomized controlled trial.
II-1	Evidence from controlled trials without randomization Cohort or case-control studies Multiple time series dramatic uncontrolled experiments.
II-2	Evidence obtained from well-designed controlled trials without randomization.
II-3	Evidence obtained from multiple time series with or without the intervention. Dramatic results in uncontrolled trials might also be regarded as this type of evidence.
III	Opinions of respected authorities, based on clinical experience, descriptive studies, or reports of expert committees.
Strength of Evidence
A	There is good evidence to support the recommendations, either for or against.
B	There is fair evidence to support the recommendations, either for or against.
C	There is insufficient evidence to support a recommendation, either for or against.

Document Overview

Document Title: Mature Oocyte Cryopreservation

Authoring Society: American Society for Reproductive Medicine

Document Publication Date: Jan 1, 2013

Page Last Reviewed/Updated: May 5, 2026

Document Type: Guideline

Country of Publication: United States

Full Text Freely Available: Yes

Full Text Guideline: www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(12)02247-9/fulltext

Source Citation: Mature oocyte cryopreservation: a guideline
Fertility and Sterility, Volume 99, Issue 1, 37 - 43

Supplemental Implementation Resources

Quick-Reference Guide

Document Scope, Criteria, and Use Cases

Document Objectives: There is good evidence that fertilization and pregnancy rates are similar to IVF/ICSI with fresh oocytes when vitrified/warmed oocytes are used as part of IVF/ICSI for young women. Although data are limited, no increase in chromosomal abnormalities, birth defects, and developmental deficits has been reported in the offspring born from cryopreserved oocytes when compared to pregnancies from conventional IVF/ICSI and the general population. Evidence indicates that oocyte vitrification and warming should no longer be considered experimental. This document replaces the document last published in 2008 titled, “Ovarian Tissue and Oocyte Cryopreservation,” Fertil Steril 2008;90:S241-6.

Scope: Assessment and Screening, Counseling, Management

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D007247 - Infertility, Female

D007246 - Infertility

D059471 - In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques

D054315 - Oocyte Retrieval

D007246 - Infertility

D007247 - Infertility, Female

D059471 - In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques

D054315 - Oocyte Retrieval

Keywords: crylopreservation, infertility

Inclusion Criteria: Female, Adult

Health Care Settings: Ambulatory, Laboratory Services, Outpatient

Intended Users: Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician, Physician Assistant

Recommendation Development Processes & Methodology

Number of Source Documents: 48

Literature Search End Date: Sunday, April 1, 2012

Includes peer/external review process?: Yes

Includes public comment process?: No

Methodologist involvement?: Yes

Patient involvement?: No

Includes multi-disciplinary group?: Yes

Includes systematic review?: Yes

Grades quality of strength of evidence?: Yes

Grades quality of strength of recommendation?: Yes

Discloses funding source?: No

Discloses conflicts of interest?: No

Includes benefits/harms analysis with recommendations?: No