Fertility preservation encompasses the techniques used to maintain reproductive capacity in women and men. Through the vitrification of gametes, individuals can postpone parenthood to a later time.
By the time women reach their thirties, the initial ovarian reserve of 2 million eggs at birth decreases to just 30,000. Not only do their oocytes decline in quantity, but also in quality, making it more challenging to achieve a successful pregnancy.
TECHNIQUES
The alternatives for preserving fertility include sperm freezing and egg vitrification.
This technique allows for the preservation of a woman’s eggs for future use. Thanks to this treatment, a woman can decide the best time to start her family.
This advanced cryopreservation technique allows for the preservation of sperm for future use. This ensures that the samples maintain their fertilisation capacity and behave similarly to fresh samples. This technique keeps the sperm quality intact for years.
Currently, there are various factors that force people to delay having a baby. Prioritizing one's professional career, the absence of a partner, or economic instability are some of the most common reasons.
Cryopreservation is the most commonly used technique in fertility preservation. In cryopreservation, gametes and embryos are frozen at an ultra-rapid rate using a process known as vitrification.
This technique transforms cells and the surrounding fluids into a glass-like substance.
FIND ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS
For women, fertility preservation is generally more effective when eggs are frozen at a younger age, because egg quantity and quality decline over time.
There is no single maximum age for sperm cryopreservation, although some semen parameters and reproductive outcomes may gradually change with paternal age. Individual assessment is recommended in both cases.
Eggs or sperm are frozen and stored for future use. This procedure is an option for those who wish to preserve their fertility for various reasons, such as advanced age, medical treatments (like chemotherapy), or personal choice to delay motherhood or fatherhood.
Vitrification allows eggs and sperm to be perfectly preserved for long periods so they can be used in future assisted reproduction cycles. If you do not wish to use them, they can be donated to other couples or for research.
The chances of success depend on factors such as age at the time of cryopreservation, the number and quality of the gametes stored, the laboratory methods used and the future treatment required.
For vitrified oocytes, survival after warming is only one part of the process and does not by itself predict fertilisation, pregnancy or live birth. IVF-Life provides an individual prognosis after clinical assessment.
PATIENTS