Vitrification of oocytes and embryos - delayed motherhood - Lita

Vitrification of oocytes and embryos – delayed motherhood

14 August 2020

Assisted reproductive technologies are constantly evolving. They are being improved, supplemented by new methods, but most importantly, they help married couples to finally know the happiness of being parents. Modern reproductive medicine offers new opportunities for childless couples that increase the chances of having children and even expand the time limits for their appearance. We are talking about vitrification (freezing) of eggs and embryos.

Oocyte vitrification means ultra-fast freezing and long-term storage of oocytes. This high-tech method has become a breakthrough in the science and practice of reproductive medicine. It is gaining popularity among modern women who want to postpone the onset of motherhood to a later period. As practice shows, egg freezing allows you to maintain high chances of conceiving a child, and also simplifies the infertility treatment regimen and helps a married couple give birth to a long-awaited healthy child.

What one needs to know about vitrification of oocytes, embryos?

Recently, more and more married couples are in no hurry to have children, because they want to first get an education, take place financially, build a successful career, in order to provide their children with everything they need in the future, improve their standard of living, and have time to travel. However, people often do not think that after 35 years of age, reproductive function fades and the chances of getting pregnant are markedly reduced. There are high risks of miscarriage and the development of chromosomal abnormalities in embryos. But thanks to the freezing of embryos or germ cells, you can give birth to your own healthy child later. Vitrification is in demand precisely because of age factors that affect the likelihood of conceiving a baby.

Oocyte freezing is considered to be a very effective cryopreservation method. Thanks to vitrification, fast deep freezing of embryos and germ cells occurs. This innovative method is ideal for single women who want to delay motherhood or seek donor services.

Before vitrification, embryos are cultivated (grown) in a special incubator for 5-6 days. The resulting embryos or cells are then placed in special containers, and then immersed in a tank with liquid nitrogen (the temperature of which is -196 degrees). You can store frozen embryos in the cryobank for an unlimited time, because the term and method of storage does not affect their quality, since optimal conditions for their storage are maintained.

A healthy woman can use her frozen eggs without contraindications for carrying pregnancy and childbirth and who wants to know the happiness of motherhood. As for age, it can reach 45, 48, and even 50 years. 

What are the benefits of oocyte vitrification?

  • cells are not damaged by ice crystals;
  • cells remain fully viable;
  • the quality of embryos does not change.

The first child from a frozen egg was born in 1999.

When is vitrification used?

  • When carrying out an IVF program in order to preserve embryos and transfer them in subsequent cycles.
  • To preserve the fertility of eggs for many years. ⠀

All healthy young women who wish to postpone motherhood for the future can take advantage of the oocyte vitrification program. This method is also available to patients with cancer. Before the radiation or before the course of chemotherapy, with the permission of the oncologist, the ovaries can be stimulated and eggs can be obtained for further freezing. It should be noted that this practice is in high demand in many countries.

If, for one reason or another, you want to delay the onset of pregnancy and resort to the method of oocyte vitrification, contact the “LITA” clinic for reproductive medicine. You have the opportunity to get a free initial consultation with a fertility specialist and make an appointment with us. Our clinic has the best doctors with many years of experience in the reproductive field as well as exclusive effective and proven methods of infertility treatment.