Fertility Preservation

Fertility Preservation refers to the process of safeguarding reproductive cells (eggs or sperm) for future use, allowing individuals to preserve their fertility potential. It is a proactive measure taken by those who wish to protect their ability to have biological children at a later stage in life.

a Egg Freezing (Oocyte Cryopreservation):
This involves retrieving a woman’s mature eggs, freezing them, and storing them for future use. When ready to conceive, the eggs can be thawed, fertilized with sperm (either from a partner or a donor), and transferred to the uterus.

b Sperm Freezing (Sperm Cryopreservation): Men can preserve their fertility by freezing and storing their sperm. This method is beneficial for those facing medical treatments, undergoing vasectomy, or anticipating fertility decline. The frozen sperm can be used later for assisted reproductive techniques, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI).

c Embryo Cryopreservation: Couples undergoing IVF can choose to freeze and store their excess embryos. These embryos can be used in the future if natural conception is challenging or if they decide to expand their family later on. Embryo cryopreservation offers the possibility of using the embryos for future transfer into the uterus. Following the thawing process, the viable embryos are transferred into the uterus in a procedure known as embryo transfer. This procedure is similar to the one performed during a fresh IVF cycle. The selected embryos are transferred using a thin catheter, guided by ultrasound imaging, to ensure precise placement within the uterine cavity.