It's unknown if the 2,000 eggs and embryos, some stored as early as the 1980s, are still viable. DePompei said center is investigating how this happened.
The hospital is reaching out to each patient individually, both through letters and phone calls. A call center was set up to expedite scheduling for any patients who need to come in.
"We are so very sorry this happened, and we want to do all that we can to support our patients and families through this very difficult time," DePompei said.
In the United States, 1 in 8 couples face infertility. Women with infertility go through the same level of anxiety and depression as women with cancer, HIV or heart disease, said Alice Domar, director of integrative care at Boston IVF.
Harvesting and storing eggs can cost patients thousands of dollars. One round of in vitro fertilization can cost as much as $15,000. Most women need many more rounds to become pregnant. Even then, some never do.
In the case of the UH Fertility Center's compromised eggs, patients will know if their eggs or embryos are still viable only by implanting them.
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