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Embryo Freezing
On an equal basis with eggs and sperm, you can also freeze embryos obtained after IVF procedure. Compared to eggs,which are more fragile cells(it consists of 90% water), embryos are stronger and better tolerate the process of freezing and further thawing. The chances of pregnancy with “fresh” and frozen embryos are the same.
There are two methods of freezing:
1) slow freezing is practically not used today due to the high risk of cell damage, since ice crystals damage the cell structure and thus reduce its viability.
2) “Vitrification” or ultra-fast freezing. This method allows you to freeze the egg in the shortest possible time-instantly, with a very rapid decrease in the temperature ofliquid nitrogen (up to -196° C ). This substance is not poisonous and can’t harm the biomaterial. With this method, there is no clystalization stage, which guarantees the integrity of the cell (and, of course, the functions of the cell) during further defrosting.
Today only vitrification is mainly used. after slow cryopreservation the first healthy baby was born in 1984. In 1990, the first child was born after ultra-fast freezing (vitrification).
Who is suitable for freezing embryos?
– Couples who plan parenthood at a later age can freeze embryos, but then it may be too late and the woman’s eggs will not be as high-quality as at a young age. Therefore, the couple turns to a reproductologist, undergo a full medical examination, the woman goes through the process of ovarian stimulation, the doctor extracts the oocytes, fertilizes with the husband’s sperm, within 3-5 days the embryos undergo the growth process and then are reliably vitrificated for a long time (10 or more years).
– During the IVF procedure, several embryos are obtained, 1 or two are transferred to the uterine cavity. If there are more embryos of good and excellent quality-they should be frozen to use them next time. If pregnancy did not occur at the first attempt, then the woman does not need to repeat the difficult process of ovarian stimulation, anesthesia and surgery. It is enough to prepare the endometrium, defrost the embryo and transfer it. In this case, the chances of pregnancy are higher than in the “fresh” cycle, because the woman skips the hormonal load on the body. Many patients, after a successful IVF attempt and delivery, return a few years later for the next child, using their frozen embryos.
– during IVF, a small percentage of patients experience unwanted complications, such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which negatively affects their health. If pregnancy occurs, the symptoms can worsen and harm both the woman and the child, up to the point of losing it. Therefore, after receiving eggs and fertilizing them, with symptoms of OHSS, the embryos are not transferred to the uterus, but are frozen. When the effect of hormones passes, the woman’s ovaries recover after stimulation(after 1-2 months) – prepare the endometrium and transfer the thawed embryos. Thus, the woman’s health is not threatened and she can safely bear pregnancy.
– If one of the spouses is planning chemotherapy and fighting cancer, the best solution in this situation is to take care of the future family in advance and freeze the embryos. After the treatment, the couple can become parents with the help of healthy frozen embryos.
What should you do if you decide to freeze the embryos?
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To contact the reproductologyst
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Make the necessary tests ( hormonal profile, viral infections, General clinical tests, PAP test, breast examination, etc., viral infections, spermogram).
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if there are no contraindications, the doctor will prescribe ovulation stimulation to the woman, which lasts about 10 days. When the follicles are ready, under anesthesia, oocytes are extracted from the ovaries under ultrasound control. The procedure lasts 10-20 minutes and it is not painful. In parallel, the husband collects the sperm, which is subject to mandatory processing and on the same day, embryologists carry out fertilization. After 3-5 days, the most powerful and high-quality embryos are contaminated by vitrification.
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When a married couple decides that it is time to become parents, they again go to the clinic, where the doctor prepares the endometrium(without injections, operations), the embryos are thawed and transfered in the uterus.
How long can frozen embryos be stored?
A cryopreserved embryo can be stored for 10 years or more. The embryo itself, while it is frozen, can not be harmed in any way. In 2017, a girl was born in America from an embryo that had been frozen for 25 years — she was carried out and given birth with a surrogate mother, who was 26 years old.
What should you do if the embryos were frozen, but the family broke up or one of the spouses died?
Unfortunately, that happens too. In order not to face a lawsuit in the future, the couple should think about such an opportunity and when signing a contract with the clinic, be sure to specify the possible fate of future embryos: which of the spouses will have the right to decide such issues, whether to destroy the embryos in the event of divorce or death of one of the spouses.