EFFICACY OF POSTAL COMMUNICATION WITH PATIENTS WHO HAVE CRYOPRESERVEDPREEMBRYOS

Objective: To compare the characteristics of patients who did and did not respond to a request for information regarding their cryopreserved pre-embryos. Design: Mail survey. Setting: Academic-assisted reproduc tive technology program. Patient(s): One hundred thirty-six patients w ith cryopreserved pre-embryos. Intervention(s): Patients were surveyed by first-class mail regarding their plans for their cryopreserved pre -embryos and their interest in embryo donation.Main Outcome Measure(s) : Age, number of stored pre-embryos, and duration of storage of respon ders and nonresponders at 6 weeks after mailing. Result(s): Eighty-thr ee patients (62%) did not respond to the survey. Compared with respond ers, nonresponders were significantly older at the time of embryo cryo preservation, had fewer pre-embryos cryopreserved, and had the pre-emb ryos cryopreserved for a longer duration. Five responders (9%) express ed an interest in embryo donation. Three patients requested disposal o f pre-embryos. Sixteen surveys (12%) were returned as undeliverable. A s a group, these patients had the fewest pre-embryos cryopreserved and had the longest duration of storage. Conclusion(s): A disturbing numb er of patients with cryopreserved pre-embryos ignored efforts by our p rogram to maintain contact. Older patients with few cryopreserved pre- embryos may require special attention to avoid abandonment. (Fertil St eril(R) 1998;70:949-51. (C) 1998 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.).