Everything You Need to Know About Cryopreservation

Byshaheen shaikh

Cancer treatment procedures chemotherapy and radiation can damage a person’s fertility or even result in infertility. To avoid such outcomes, patients with impending cancer treatments are advised to go for cryopreservation which refers to systematic freezing and storage of eggs, sperms or embryos. These stored and preserved cells can be used at a later date. This technique is also being chosen by people working in conditions that pose threat to their fertility.

Other candidates for Cryopreservation include people looking to preserve their fertility for a later stage due to career, social or lifestyle reasons. The preserved eggs and sperms are later used for IVF procedures. To know more about the cryopreservation and its role in IVF do get in touch with the best IVF centres in Hyderabad.

Understanding Cryopreservation

Cryopreservation is the process of freezing eggs, sperms or embryos to sub-zero temperatures for use at a later stage. The technique involves the use of liquid nitrogen to freeze the cells at -196 degrees besides using cryoprotective agents to prevent any kind of damage to the cells during the process. The life of the cells being frozen gets enhanced due to the suspension of all biological activities in them. Freezing also stops the biochemical reactions that can result in the degradation of the DNA and cell loss.

The frozen eggs, sperms or embryos are thawed and used in a fertility treatment cycle. While the sperm can be used for intrauterine insemination or IUI or the IVF procedures, the eggs and embryos are used in IVF procedures. The preservation of the frozen eggs, sperms and embryos will involve costs that depend on several factors including the duration for which they are stored. The exact IVF cost and the cost of cryopreservation will depend on the complexity of a case, the processes involved and several other factors.

Applications of Cryopreservation

This technique is used to freeze eggs, sperms and embryos.

  • Oocyte cryopreservation or egg freezing involves ovarian stimulation followed by egg retrieval. The retrieved eggs are then frozen and stored for future use. This technique reduces the risk of congenital deformities that may occur due to the increased maternal age.
  • Sperm freezing involves freezing sperms for future use. Sperms can survive the freezing process for an indefinite period of time. The process involves taking the semen sample followed by its examination for the quality and the quantity of the sperms. The high-quality sperms are then frozen for future use.
  • Embryo freezing is used for women having a committed partner or the ones who are willing to use a donor sperm. The process involves giving injections or oral medicines to the female to induce the release of eggs. This is followed by the retrieval of eggs and their incubation with the sperms to enable fertilisation. The fertilised eggs or the embryos are frozen three to five days after the fertilisation. This technique is highly useful for people who have not been successful in their previous IVF cycle. The use of frozen embryos saves a lot of time, stress and money.

Is it Risky?

No, the process of cryopreservation is not risky. Freezing of eggs or sperms or embryos is a routine process, but there is no guarantee that all the frozen cells will survive after thawing. While the overall survival rate is quite good, multiple cycles may be required to ensure a pregnancy in the future, caution experts at the best IVF centre in Hyderabad.