Cryopreservation of sperm, oocytes, and embryos

HomeTreatmentsCryopreservation of sperm, oocytes, and embryos

Cryopreservation of sprem, oocytes, and embryos

Cryopreservation is a technique that is used to freeze eggs, embryos or sperm for further use in infertility treatments or cycles after thawing.

With the availability of frozen embryos eggs or sperm, a man or woman need not undergo stimulation by fertility drugs in order to have an embryo transfer during an infertility treatment cycle.

Why are surplus created?

Treatments such as IVF, ICSI, IUI often generate embryos that are in surplus and if they are of sufficiently good quality, they can be frozen and placed in storage for future use. During the standard course of infertility treatment, hormones are used to stimulate the development of multiple eggs. When these extra embryos are of sufficient quality, they may be cryopreserved so that they may be transferred for future date providing an additional embryo transfer without the inconvenience and expense of an additional IVF Cycle.

Sperm Freezing

Sperm can be stored for a number of reasons, including:

  1. To store donated sperm.
  2. Couples who wish to due to undergo infertility treatment if the man finds it difficult to ejaculate on demand, which may result in their inability to produce a sample on the day of egg collection.
  3. To provide storage after sperm have been surgically removed.
  4. Before a vasectomy
  5. Prior to cancer treatment since it can compromise fertility

Egg/Oocyte Freezing

Egg freezing consists of freezing of viable eggs (oocytes) prior to fertilization. Stored eggs are then thawed and fertilized with sperm for the purpose of treatment at some date in future.

Egg can be frozen for a number of reasons, including:

  1. You need treatment for cancer or another illness that can affect your ability to get pregnant.
  2. You wish to preserve younger eggs now for future use.
  3. Genetic mutations requiring removing the ovaries
  4. You have a condition or circumstance that can affect your fertility.
  5. You’re worried about your fertility declining but you’re not ready to have a child

Do you need to undergo any tests before storage of eggs, embryos or sperm?

Yes, the following are required for anyone wishing to store:

  1. HIV
  2. Hepatitis B & C
  3. Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Because of regulatory requirements, special consent forms have to be completed before storage. You will be asked questions such as how long you wish to keep the material for, what you wish it must be used for and what you wish it to be come in case of any unforeseen event or death.

PREGNANCY CALCULATOR

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Enter the date of the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP):

DUE DATE RESULT

...

Probable date of conception:

 

Foetal Age Today:

 

Best date range for NT scan:

 

(12 weeks 3 days to 13 weeks 3 days)

Morphology Scan Date:

 

(19 weeks)

First Heart Tones by Doppler:

 

(11 to 12 weeks)

Best time to evaluate cervical length in patient with risk factors:

 

Best time for routine anatomy ultrasound:

 

(18 to 20 weeks)

Estimated Due Date: