Embryo freezing (cryopreservation) freezes and stores fertilized eggs for later use. It’s frequently used with fertility treatments that create embryos, consisting of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Embryo cryopreservation is beneficial for leftover embryos after a cycle of in vitro fertilization, as sufferers who fail to conceive may also become pregnant the usage of such embryos while not having to undergo a complete IVF cycle. Or, if being pregnant occurred, they could return later for another being pregnant. Spare oocytes or embryos resulting from fertility remedies can be used for oocyte donation or embryo donation to every other female or couple, and embryos can be created, frozen and stored especially for transfer and donation through the usage of donor eggs and sperm. It can also help people hold fertility and get pregnant in the future.
What Is Embryo Freezing?
Embryo freezing, additionally referred to as embryo cryopreservation, is a procedure to freeze and store embryos for later use. An embryo is an egg that has been fertilized through a sperm. This technique is a method to assist humans with fertility and reproduction.
Why Would You Freeze An Embryo?
Embryo freezing frequently takes place after people have remedies to attempt to get pregnant. Examples consist of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).These techniques fertilize eggs with sperm, and they once in a while create more embryos. You may also pick to freeze more embryos and use them later.
- Postpone or cancel implantation into your uterus after an egg is already fertilized.
- Want to postpone IVF to a later date.
- Want an alternative in case early attempts at fertility treatment fail.
- Choose to donate unused embryos to different couples looking to get pregnant or to researchers instead of damaging them.
Embryo freezing is likewise used for fertility preservation. For example, a female or individual special woman at birth (DFAB) with most cancers may need to store fertilized eggs earlier than beginning chemotherapy or radiation remedy if that remedy may want to have an effect on their ability to get pregnant. A transgender man (transitioning to male) additionally may freeze eggs or embryos earlier than taking hormones for the transition or having gender confirmation surgery.
What’s The Difference Between Egg Freezing And Embryo Freezing?
Embryo cryopreservation is the freezing of a fertilized egg. Fertility programs may also offer egg freezing, in which unfertilized eggs are frozen.
Does Freezing Damage Embryos?
Freezing can damage the embryos. Subsequent thawing can also damage them. If more than one embryo is frozen, some or all may not survive the procedure. Your doctor will tell if your embryos can be frozen, thawed, and implanted.
What Happens Before Embryo Cryopreservation?
To store embryos, parental consent is necessary. Individuals will be given consent forms to read and sign by the medical professional. The report should include information like:
• The number of embryos that will be frozen.
• How long will they be preserved? (Often 10 years).
• What occurs when the storage period
• What will happen if you die suddenly or get sick enough to not be able to make decisions before the storage term ends.
• The allowed usage for embryos (for example, only your fertility treatments or if they can be donated to research or to another infertile couple).
The medical professional can also advise them on the ideal time to store one or more embryos, depending on their developmental stage. Following are the stages where freezing is possible:
• Cleavage period: When the single cell has multiplied to between four and eight cells after about 72 hours.
• Blastocyst stage: When the single cell has multiplied to between 200 to 300 cells after five to seven days.
What Happens During Embryo Cryopreservation?
Embryos can be stored using either vitrification or slow freezing. In cryopreservation, fertility professionals:
• Give the embryos a cryoprotective agent (CPA). CPA is a solvent that functions like antifreeze and protects cells from ice crystals.
• Immediately place the embryos in tanks of liquid nitrogen that are set at a temperature of -321°F (196.1°C).
While slow freezing has lost favor, certain fertility doctors may still employ it. Fertility specialists:
• Add less of a cryoprotective agent (CPA) to the embryos during slow freezing than during vitrification.
• Place the embryos in a system that slowly decreases their temperature over the course of around two hours.
• Take the embryos out of the cooler and place them in liquid nitrogen tanks at a temperature of -321°F (196.1°C).
For either process, the embryos are:
• Stored in containers that seem to be small straws.
• Labeled with details that identify them as yours.
Interestingly, the embryos remain the biological age at which they were frozen. So the embryo hasn’t aged if they freeze them at age 35 and use them once more at age 50.
What Happens After Embryo Freezing?
When frozen embryos are needed in the future, a fertility specialist will:
• Remove the embryos from the liquid nitrogen.
• Permit them to gradually regain their normal temperature.
• To get rid of the CPA, soak them.
• Use the embryos as indicated (for example, transfer them into your uterus).
What Are The Advantages Of Embryo Cryopreservation?
Embryo freezing can help individuals achieve pregnancy later in life if they are facing difficulties, such as:
- Advancing age.
- Changes in gender.
- Issues in infertility.
- Social/personal reasons like if individuals seeking higher level education or have professional demands and plan to delay pregnancy for several decades.
- Potentially harmful treatments for fertility (for example, chemotherapy or pelvic radiation therapy for cancer).
- Women who are single may worry about aging and decide to freeze their eggs or the embryos they develop using donor sperm.
Is Frozen Embryo Transfer Successful?
Frozen embryo transfer occurs if an embryo is thawed and implanted into a woman’s uterus. Typically, the procedure is effective. However, a number of factors that affects rates, including:
- The general health of both parents.
- Age of the mother at the time of egg retrieval,
- The presence of fertility disorders such endometriosis, fibroid, and uterine polyps, and the success or failure of previous fertility treatments and pregnancies are all factors.
The medical professional will assist with in understanding the variables that could impact the chances of success.
When you don’t require the frozen embryos any more:
Frozen embryos may be:Â
- Discarded if not used.
- They will be taken out of the liquid nitrogen can by the fertility clinic, where they will thaw and lose viability.
- Donate them to someone else who’s trying to conceive a baby.
- Donate them to research or study
- Donate them for academic purposes (for example, to help train future fertility professionals).
