Embryo freezing, also known as embryo banking or cryopreservation, is a fertility preservation procedure that involves freezing embryos for future use.
embryo freezing process involves several carefully monitored steps that ensure safety and efficiency:
Ovarian stimulation: Medications are administered to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs.
Egg retrieval: Eggs are retrieved from the ovaries using a needle guided by ultrasound.
Fertilization: Eggs are fertilized with sperm in a laboratory to create embryos.
Embryo development: Embryos are allowed to develop to a desired stage (usually blastocyst stage) before freezing.
Cryoprotectant exposure: Embryos are exposed to a cryoprotectant solution which helps prevent ice crystal formation during freezing.
Vitrification (rapid freezing): The embryos are rapidly frozen using liquid nitrogen, essentially replacing the water in the cells with the cryoprotectant solution.
Storage: Frozen embryos are stored in liquid nitrogen tanks at very low temperatures (-196°C).
This technique involves very rapid freezing, minimizing the risk of ice crystal damage to the embryo.
Only high-quality embryos are typically chosen for freezing to maximize the chance of successful pregnancy after thawing.
When ready to use, embryos are thawed by gradually warming them and removing the cryoprotectant.
The thawed embryos are then transferred into the uterus during a woman’s prepared menstrual cycle.
A team of experienced fertility specialists and andrologists to guide you through the process.
Advanced cryopreservation methods to ensure optimal quality and viability of stored sperm.
A safe, supportive, and discreet environment for all our patients.
Customized storage options for both short-term and long-term needs.
In some situations, your physician may recommend freezing your embryos to help avoid the risk of a condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which would worsen after pregnancy. It may also be recommended to help increase the chance of pregnancy if certain hormone levels are too high during the IVF cycle.
Generally, fertility begins to drop as early as your late 20s or early 30s. It tends to fall more rapidly after age 35 as your egg reserves become even more depleted. Thus, the best age for freezing your eggs likely falls somewhere between 27 and 34.
While you may experience some mild tenderness or discomfort at different stages of your cycle, it is unlikely you will find that any part of egg freezing hurts.
Embryo freezing, or cryopreservation, is a process that freezes and stores fertilized eggs for later use. It can help people preserve fertility and have options for pregnancy later in life. If you're considering embryo cryopreservation, talk to your primary care provider, gynecologist or fertility specialist.
Yes, babies born from frozen embryos can be healthy. In fact, some studies suggest that babies conceived from frozen embryos have better outcomes than those conceived from fresh embryos.
While embryos can be frozen at various stages during an IVF cycle (day 1, day 3, etc.), our usual strategy is to freeze at the blastocyst stage (Day 5-6).
If you are a good candidate for single embryo transfer, your chance of having a baby after two single embryo transfers is as good as your chance of having a baby after one double embryo transfer. That's important to know because twin pregnancies are risky for baby and mother.
A frozen embryo is not dead—it is still alive. Its metabolic rate only suffices to preserve its potential for sustaining life, not for development or growth. This represents a case of self-preservation or suspended animation while life is dormant.
You stay awake for the entire procedure. The embryos are extremely small. Even if you're having more than one implantation, each embryo consists of just 2-8 cells.
“As a scientist, I was thrilled that it worked so well.” The New York Times, for example, reported on April 11, 1984: “A 5 1/2–pound girl named Zoe is the world's first baby to emerge from a frozen embryo, scientists announced today.” According to the Monash University doctor, the baby had been delivered by caesarean ...