Perceptions and beliefs about embryo cryopreservation in women and men who carry out assisted reproduction technology in Santiago, Chile Percepciones y creencias sobre criopreservación embrionaria en mujeres y hombres que se realizan técnicas de reproducc

Abstract

© 2018 Sociedad Chilena de Obstetricia y Ginecologia. All rights reserved. Background and objetive: Although embryo cryopreservation is frequently used as part of assisted reproductive technology, quantitave information addressing how infertile couples live the experience of having cryopreserved embryos is lacking in Chile. The aim of this study is to examine men and women's perception and beliefs regarding their cryopreserved embryos, as well as their perspective on embryo donation and disposition. Methods: 153 women and men with frozen embryos from a public hospital, Instituto de Investigactiones Materno Infantil, and a private clinic, Clínica Las Condes, in Santiago, Chile, responded between May 2015 and May 2016 to an anonymous online survey addressing their perceptions and beliefs concerning their cryopreserved embryos. Results: Respondents considered their frozen embryos to be equivalent to a child (53.2%) or a potential child (40.7%). Only 8% regard them as an organized group of