The fate of stored human embryos 5 years after approval of embryo stem cell research in Brazil

Abstract

After human embryonic stem cells were successfully obtained from frozen embryos, donation for research became a new alternative for surplus embryos. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of Brazil's Biosecurity Law on the availability of frozen embryos donated for embryonic stem cell research, through the observation of the number of embryos donated for that purpose by patients of a private clinic and by obtaining data from the National Health Surveillance Agency's online registers. A total of 43 couples donated 245 embryos for research between 2005 and 2010. Couples kept their frozen embryos for 3.35 years before donating them to research and the mean age of the women was 36.54 when donation took place. A total of 37 couples (86%) that donated embryos for research achieved pregnancy during IVF fresh cycle. In 2008 in Brazil, 573 surplus frozen embryos, from 50 IVF clinics, were donated for human embryonic stem cell research and in 2009, 455 from 31 IVF clinics were donated. A reduction in embryo donation, therefore, was observed. We believe it is necessary to release information and promote public discussion to clarify the potential of embryonic stem cell research, as a strategy to increase the number of embryo donations for research. © Todos os direitos reservados a SBRA - Sociedade Brasileira de Reprodução Assistida.