Fertility researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC announced the first findings from their ongoing clinical trial on oocyte cryopreservation.

John K. Jain and Richard J. Paulson, physicians from USC Fertility, the nonprofit fertility practice at USC, reported an unprecedented pregnancy success rate of 63 percent resulting from the use of frozen eggs.

This early success rate is reflective of five out of the first eight study volunteers – out of a total number of 20 participants aged 35 or less – who achieved pregnancy following oocyte retrieval, cryopreservation, thaw, fertilization and transfer back to the patient as embryos.

The research project, which began in September 2004, is unique in that it is the first organized prospective study in which all of the eggs taken from each candidate in a single aspiration were frozen.

“This is very exciting news,” Jain said. “Our interim study data show that oocyte cryopreservation has become a viable clinical option. Our experience suggests that efficacy is much higher than previously thought and that we have turned a corner.”

Jain, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the Keck School, is principal investigator on the self-funded study. Paulson, chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the Keck School, is co-investigator.

USC Fertility laboratory director Mary Francis is the project’s lead embryologist.

“Much of this early success can be attributed to how well the new culture medium is working,” Francis said. “We’ve been able to use our standard embryo-freezing equipment with only a few, very minor adjustments.”

“While our sample is small and our data are still preliminary,” Paulson added, “we are nonetheless highly optimistic that this high rate of success will continue in the future.”

Jain, Francis and Paulson plan to publish their complete conclusions at study’s end in early 2006.

USC Fertility is a leader in fertility-related clinical research and is dedicated to developing treatment breakthroughs and providing all potential parents reliable and scientifically tested alternatives for building families today and tomorrow.

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