Embryo freezing Anything like this or cryopreservation is a technique which has been used for several years across various medical fields. The process is all about freezing the biological materials at extremely low temperatures halting all the cellular activities. Even biochemical reactions which cause DNA degradation and cell death are stopped. The temperature for cryopreservation can be as low as -196° and it generally uses liquid nitrogen as the freezing medium.
Medications are firstly administered to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs.
Egg retrieval
The procedure is performed in a hospital under sedation for a transvaginal ultrasound will guide the needle to remove your eggs from the ovarian follicles. At least 15 eggs will be retrieved every cycle. Mild discomfort and cramping might be experienced afterward.
Freezing
Retrieved eggs are cooled to sub zero temps Search for storage. Some of the most common methods are vitrification, a quick freezing technique that uses cryoprotectants to prevent ice crystal formation. Slow freezing is an alternative but vitrification is preferred because of its high success rates in preserving egg viability during freezing and thawing.
Sperm cryopreservation
Sperm freezing includes storing sperm for future use which is beneficial for you if you're undergoing treatments that might cause infertility including cancer therapy or surgery on the prostate or testicles. It is also useful for you if you are at a risk of exposure to harmful chemicals or radiation
The semen sample is firstly collected in sterile lab and analyzed for different factors like volume mortality and the sperm count
Cryoprotectants are added to the cement to prevent ice crystal formation during freezing. There are mainly 2 methods 1 includes slow freezing and rapid freezing. Firstly sperm is cooled gradually over two to four hours before being placed in a liquid nitrogen at -196°. For rapid freezing samples are immersed directly in liquid nitrogen within eight to 10 minutes. Because of the fluidity of the sperm membrane and low water content sperm is less susceptible to damage during freezing.
In embryo cryopreservation you are given medication to stimulate the release of multiple eggs which are then retrieved and fertilized with your partner's sperm. The embryos are frozen three to five days after fertilization
Freezing techniques
Slow freezing is a technique where embryos are slowly cooled over two to four hours before being placed in liquid nitrogen. In rapid freezing embryos are directly placed in liquid nitrogen at sub zero temperatures.
Cryopreservation is a valuable option for you if you are not yet ready for childbirth or facing infertility challenges. It is especially useful for you if you are considering or undergoing IVF as it allows for the preservation of fertility.
A doctor might recommend fertility testing to determine your suitability for cryopreservation
You need to consider your future plans for having kids and discuss the same with your doctor to make an informed decision about cryopreservation
Cryopreservation provides you a practical and effective way to protect your fertility and increase the chance of healthy pregnancy in the future. Whether for medical reasons or personal choice it offers you hope and flexibility.
The main objective of embryo freezing is to preserve the embryos for your future use the process ensures that embryos are stored in the environment that maintains the viability with time full
Embryo selection
During the IVF process you are given medicine to stimulate the production of multiple eggs; most of the male also provide a large quantity of sperm cells. When these eggs and sperm are combined several embryos often form typically one to four of the healthiest embryos will be implanted into the mother. The remaining viable embryos will be selected for freezing and future use.
Removing the water content
Embryos cannot be frozen directly because of the water content inside the cells. If the water were to freeze it could form ice crystals which can expand and damage or burst your cells. To prevent the same cryoprotectants are used to replace the water content inside your cells. It is a very important step for protecting the embryos during egg freezing.
Embryo freezing
Once the water content is completely removed the embryos will be cooled down to 20° and then frozen. It can be done using two methods.
Slow freezing
In slow freezing embryos will be placed in a tube or a straw sealed with sterilized bearings. The temperature is reduced from 20° to -7° and eventually to -35° to reduce the risk of damage. Once frozen the tube is transferred to a liquid nitrogen container maintaining -196°C. The gradual process helps you prevent the formation of ice crystals and reduce the risk of cell damage.
Vitrification
Vitrification is a quick method of freezing. The cryo protected embryos are rapidly frozen to prevent the formation of ice crystals. Your embryos will be stored in liquid nitrogen. Even though this method requires high quality cryoprotectants and strict conditions to avoid contamination it effectively preserves your embryos without crystallization
The process of thawing or defrosting embryos includes the removal from the liquid nitrogen container and placing them in a water bath with a gradual temperature increase. As the temperature increases the cryoprotectants leave the embryos through a controlled dilution process which ensures minimum impact on the cells.
Dos
You will be prescribed progesterone and other medicines to prepare your uterus and regulate your hormones. Just ensure that you have enough medicines and understand how to take them.
Rest is really important before sleep and after the transfer. You just need to aim for at least eight hours of sleep every night.
Just focus on consuming worm meals rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
You must arrive at the embryo transfer appointment with a full bladder as it can help you improve the procedures successfully.
Don't
You should avoid keeping your abdomen and uterus away from extreme temperatures both hot and cold.
Cold foods and beverages are not ideal post transfer so you should avoid cold drinks sugar and highly processed foods and salt instead you should rely on herbs and spices for seasoning.
Refrain from sexual intercourse as it can cause you contractions that might disrupt the embryo transfer process.
Embryo freezing costs in India can truly vary depending on the clinic. The base price for the treatment is completely consistent but there might be additional costs because of the medicines used. The total cost of the IVF treatment can depend on any additional surgical procedures required. Typically the minimum cost For one IVF cycle with frozen embryos is anywhere between 1,40,000 to ₹1,50,000. This amount includes the cost of storing your embryos annually until they are used.
The main difference between embryo freezing and egg freezing is that embryo freezing requires your sperm while egg freezing does not fill and egg freezing of women's eggs are retrieved and stored for future use without fertilization. On the flip side embryo freezing includes fertilizing your eggs with sperm before freezing.