Cryopreservation

Cryopreservation of sperm and embryos is a prospective IVF technique, which is quite widely used at the present stage. The essence of this technology is that cells frozen (preserved) in a certain way, for a long time stored in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -196 ° C and after a properly performed defrosting procedure in a large percentage of cases retain their viability.

In other words, if during the IVF cycle more pairs of high quality embryos are obtained than needed for transfer ("replanting"), then this "surplus" can be saved for carrying out, if necessary, repeated programs. In this case, the woman is no longer undergoing stimulation, which significantly reduces the cost of the treatment cycle, and the preparation concerns mainly the endometrium. Storage of cryopreserved cells can take a very long time, which makes it possible to delay pregnancy planning.

For patients with severe hyperstimulation syndrome, when embryo transfer is not possible in this cycle, cryopreservation offers a chance to get pregnant in the next cycle without fear for the health of expectant mother.

In the same way, unpredictable situations sometimes occur (these can be health problems for the woman herself, such as trauma, an acute inflammatory process, or family circumstances) that make it impossible to carry embryos in this cycle. In such cases, cryopreservation is the optimal way out.

Cryopreservation of male germ cells (sperm) is a simple, but quite effective procedure, especially in cases where the couple, over family circumstances, is separated by considerable distances and the reproductive issue is very acute. Of course, such semen can be used for IUI, IVF or ICSI programs, depending on the specific situation both from the woman and the quality of the semen itself. In addition, this procedure is increasingly used by men of reproductive age before starting chemotherapy. This is a unique opportunity to have a genetically born child without worrying about the consequences of treating cancer. The life of frozen cells is not limited, so the chance to become a parent is given to those men who used this procedure in their teens.