In relation to assisted mammalian reproduction, the goal of cryopreservation is to preserve without significant loss of viability a stock of gametes and/or embryos with a view to thawing those cells for use in in vitro reproduction treatments. There are numerous cryopreservation protocols, which vary in terms of cryoprotectant used, storage temperature, freezing and thawing rates, and the particular cells that they are suitable for preserving.