Researching human oocyte cryopreservation: ethical issues

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.