[Between "pragmatic" interpretation and "disturbing" understanding: Embryonic cryopreservation for IVF patients].

Objectives: The aim of this article is to question the feeling of IVF patients towards embryonic cryopreservation, in order to understand their potential reluctance to freeze embryos and their difficulties to consider the fate of their frozen embryos once their parental project completed.

Methods: Twenty-seven semi-directive interviews with homologous IVF patients were conducted. These persons were followed in two fertility centres in Marseille.

Results: If all the patients interviewed have accepted embryonic cryopreservation or have accepted on principle, a majority have an ambivalent attitude towards this technique. If some share the "pragmatic" vision of professionals (embryologists, technicians and gynaecologists), they are numerous to worry about a possible deterioration of embryonic quality, or again about a disrupted order of generation. Finally, it appears that patients do not anticipate the possible fate of their frozen embryos if they are uninscribed from their parental project.

Conclusions: Patients are mainly ambivalent towards embryonic cryopreservation. They prioritize different rationality depending on the situations and issues they are dealing with.