Female Fertility Preservation

OVARIAN TISSUE CRYOPRESERVATION

Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation has great potential for patients who will be undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments for cancer. Prior to undergoing treatment, the ovary or ovarian tissue is acquired during an outpatient surgical procedure. The cortex of the ovary contains the resting follicles which house the eggs.

Small pieces of the cortex are frozen in a cryoprotectant solution that permeates the tissue and allows it to be frozen and stored without damage. Once thawed, it can be grafted back into the body, where hormones will be produced from the maturing follicles. From these follicles, eggs are retrieved and then fertilized by laboratory methods. The resulting embryos may then be transferred to the uterine cavity to initiate a pregnancy or frozen for future use.

OOCYTE CRYOPRESERVATION

Prior to undergoing treatment, eggs (oocytes) are retrieved with or without ovarian stimulating medications. Using ultrasound guidance, eggs are retrieved transvaginally from the ovary. This is an in-office procedure which lasts approximately 30 minutes. After your eggs have been retrieved, they are cryopreserved.

The freezing process involves removing much of the water from within the egg and replacing it with a cryoprotective substance used to prevent damage to the egg as it is being frozen. Once the eggs are frozen, they will be transferred to a liquid nitrogen chamber where they may be stored indefinitely.

The eggs can be thawed and fertilized by direct sperm injection whenever desired. The fertilized eggs (embryos) are then transferred to the uterus to initiate a pregnancy

Oocyte cryopreservation is on the forefront of advances in reproductive technology. It is a relatively new procedure which has limited success at the present time.

A non-surgical option for females involving hormonal suppression of ovarian activity prior to undergoing chemotherapy is also available and may be considered on an individual basis.

Embryo Cryopreservation

Embryo cryopreservation is a procedure which has been utilized for over 20 years with excellent success. The process involves stimulating the ovaries with fertility medications, thus causing the eggs (oocytes) to mature. The eggs are then retrieved transvaginally with ultrasound guidance in an in-office procedure under anesthesia. The mature eggs are fertilized with your partner’s sperm or approved donor sperm which has been fully screened and tested.

Once fertilized, the resulting embryos are frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen. When desired, the frozen embryos will be thawed and transferred into the uterus.

*Oocyte cryopreservation is on the forefront of advances in reproductive technology. It is a relatively new procedure which has limited success at the present time.

A non-surgical option for females involving hormonal suppression of ovarian activity prior to undergoing chemotherapy is also available and may be considered on an individual basis.