Storage and disposal of embryos and gametes

Storage and disposal ofembryos and gametesPatients must be aware oftheir rights and responsibilitiesFreezing of sperm and preimplantation embryos is a technique used routinely in livestock industries, laboratory animal breed- ing, and genetic conservation, and more recently it has been used to aid the conservation of endangered species.In human infertility, freezing sperm ensures the safe, effective use of sperm for insemination.It also enables men who are about to undergo treatment which affects sperm production-involving drugs, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy-to store sperm for later use.Embryos are frozen for patients undergoing in vitro ferti- lisation, either to improve the chance of conception or to allow for planned use in the future.Freezing spare embryos allows replacement of an optimum number to avoid the risk of multi- ple birth and avoids the waste of discarding potentially viable