Cryopreservation
Cryopreservation is the phrase used to define the process of freezing and storing sperm, eggs or surplus embryos through an IVF cycle.
For freezing, there are 2 methods currently used in IVF labs-slow freezing and vitrification (ultra-rapid freezing)
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- Vitrification is the method of turning something into a solid without any crystal formation. This is done by adding a cryo-protectant. It is essential because ice crystal formation can be damaging to frozen embryos .
- The embryos can be frozen at the pronuclear stage, or any stage after that up to and including the blastocyst stage for 5-7 days after fertilization. Distinct cryoprotectants, freezing solutions and protocols are applied at various stages of embryo development.
Sperm Freezing
Sperm freezing is known as cryopreservation, or semen banking is a procedure used to preserve sperms by freezing and banking in liquid nitrogen at the temperature of -196⁰C which is later used for fertilizing an egg.
Sperm freezing is useful:
- If you have been undergoing medical treatment for a condition, that may affect your fertility
- If you are about to have a vasectomy
- If you have a poor sperm count, or the nature of your sperm is declining
- If you have trouble producing a sample on the day of fertility treatment
- If you are at danger of injury or death
What is the procedure before we store your sperm?
- At Yadav Fertility Centre, we let our patients go through careful screening for HIV, HBV, HCV, etc. which aids in avoiding the risk of infection.
- Written consent is provided by our team regarding what will happen to your sperm if you cannot make decisions for yourself.
- The standard time for banking sperm is 10 years, but you can increase the storage time up to 55 years, before doing that our Andrologist will check the condition of the sperm in one of the vessels and assist you in deciding on the fate of the frozen sperms.
Embryo Freezing
Traditional IVF treatment protocols often result in more than three eggs being accumulated during a cycle; resulting in excess embryos. Embryo Freezing accommodates couples with the option of having excess to frozen embryos that can be used in future periods. There are many benefits of freezing embryos such as it reduces the risk of multiple pregnancies as we transport fewer embryos in the fresh cycle and cryopreserve supernumerary embryos.
We improve the cumulative pregnancy rate by using cryopreserved embryos in thaw cycles. Cryopreservation cycles do not need ovarian stimulation and ovum pick up, the treatment is therefore significantly cheaper. Patients at risk of developing Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), can have the option of cryopreserving all embryos & prevent OHSS.