Embryo cryopreservation is a well-established form of assisted conception treatment. The first frozen embryo baby was born in 1984. Embryo cryopreservation allows multiple embryo transfers from a single egg collection and improves the chances of a live birth from a single surgical intervention.

Embryo cryopreservation allows for maximizing the potential of conception from IVF and prevents wastage of viable normal additional embryos created through the superovulation process. Approximately 50% of women undergoing IVF will have additional quality embryos available for freezing.

Freezing all embryos for subsequent transfer may be advised for women who are at a high risk of developing severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) following ovarian stimulation for in-vitro fertilization (IVF).

When embryo implantation may be compromised in cases such as the presence of endometrial polyps, poor endometrial development, break through bleeding near the time of embryo transfer or patient illness embryo cryopreservation can be performed to enable transfer at a later more advantageous date.