Egg Cryopreservation
Oocyte cryopreservation is a fertility preservation method in which oocytes
a woman’s oocytes are frozen at very low temperatures for future use. When the
woman wishes to become pregnant, the oocytes are thawed and fertilized in the
laboratory.
The process lasts 10–12 days, is simple, and is carried out as follows:
- Hormonal stimulation is administered for 8–12 days
- monitoring through ultrasound examinations and hormonal tests, with the aim of
producing multiple oocytes - the process is completed with oocyte retrieval—a short procedure performed under sedation—followed by
oocyte cryopreservation.
The oocytes remain available to the woman until the age permitted by law
to undergo in vitro fertilization (currently, the legal age limit is 54 years).
Oocyte cryopreservation is performed for medical or social reasons. Specifically,
It is recommended in cases of delayed motherhood (e.g., career, personal reasons),
low ovarian reserve, absence of a partner, and before starting medical
treatments (chemotherapy, immunotherapy) or surgical procedures for benign
gynecological conditions.
The woman’s age at the time of oocyte cryopreservation is the most important prognostic
factor determining the success of the procedure. The younger the woman, the higher
the chances of achieving pregnancy using cryopreserved oocytes. The ideal age is considered
age <35 years.
Sperm Cryopreservation
Sperm cryopreservation is a simple and effective method of preserving male
fertility, in which sperm is frozen for future use.
The process involves the following steps:
- a semen sample is collected after 2–4 days of abstinence.
- The sample is analyzed (quality assessment – sperm count and motility), and
laboratory processing of the sample (addition of special cryoprotective substances), - it is then frozen at very low temperatures (-196°C) and
stored for years.
Sperm cryopreservation is recommended:
- before medical treatments (chemotherapy or radiotherapy)
- before testicular surgery
- in occupations with a high risk of sperm damage
- in cases of poor sperm quality
- in cases where the man is unavailable during the assisted
reproduction treatment - as part of preventive sperm preservation at a young age.
Sperm can be stored for many years without significant deterioration.
The advantages of the procedure are:
- that it is simple and quick
- preserves fertility for the future
- and protects male fertility before medical treatments.
Oocyte and sperm preservation offer the possibility of “freezing” fertility
at a younger age – flexibility in family planning – safety before medical
treatments