Reproductive Preservation

Oocyte Cryopreservation, commonly known as egg freezing, provides a proactive approach to fertility management, enabling women to preserve mature eggs for future pregnancy endeavors, whether they are navigating through a cancer diagnosis or simply electing to delay childbearing. As reproductive age significantly impacts egg reserve, this method offers a strategic option for those wishing to secure their potential to conceive in later life stages.

The egg preservation process, while straightforward, involves a series of steps beginning with 8-10 days of hormone treatments, followed by egg aspiration under anesthesia, and culminating in the freezing of eggs for up to 12 years. When the individual decides to pursue pregnancy, the eggs are thawed, fertilized via in vitro fertilization (IVF), and embryos are transferred into the uterus, navigating the path toward desired parenthood.

The Embryo Cryopreservation process, also known as “embryo freezing,” involves storing embryos at a very low temperature so that they can be thawed and used at a later time. An embryo consists of an egg and sperm that is already joined (or in other words, fertilized) and contains the genetic material from both the male and female parents. Embryos are more stable than the fragile eggs, leaving them less prone to damage during the freezing and thawing fertility process.

Embryo freezing can take place 1-5 days after fertilization. Typically, at Red Rock Fertility Center, we like to freeze the embryo during the blastocyst stage (day 5). The reason for this is because most chromosomally abnormal embryos will stop developing in culture and do not progress to the blastocyst stage, leaving the strongest embryos which will lead to a better chance of pregnancy.

Sperm Cryopreservation, or sperm freezing, is a pivotal service offered to men who seek to preserve their fertility for various reasons, such as impending testicular surgery, chemo, radiation therapy, or simply as a precaution due to age-related sperm quality decline. This process, which has successfully facilitated pregnancies even with sperm stored for up to 20 years, provides a safeguard for future family planning, ensuring that high-quality sperm is available when the decision to conceive is made.

Particularly for those contemplating a vasectomy, sperm freezing emerges as a prudent choice, considering the moderate success rates and potential quality issues with sperm post-vasectomy reversal. Utilizing frozen sperm, which has demonstrated comparable success rates to fresh sperm in IVF procedures, can circumvent potential future obstacles in fertility, providing a reliable path to parenthood when the time is right.