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Egg Freezing - Oocyte cryopreservation

Recent advances in the assisted reproduction technologies have now allowed us to freeze, store and later thaw and fertilize cryopreserved human oocytes. This new advance in the field of reproductive medicine provides yet another valuable tool to aid in the management of couples struggling to overcome problems with infertility. This technology allows us to offer the option of oocyte freezing and storage to women concerned about preserving their own fertility. This may be a viable option for women concerned about advancing age and its effect on their reproductive potential or for women facing premature loss of their ovaries or their ovarian function. Harvesting and cryopreservation of eggs may also be considered by women dealing with cervical, endometrial and breast cancer, as well as those facing systemic chemotherapy or other therapy thought to be a threat to reproductive potential.

When a woman is deemed to be a good candidate to produce a sufficient quantity of eggs for cryopreservation, her ovaries can be stimulated with injectable fertility medications in a similar manner to that utilized for assisted reproduction procedures. Ovarian follicle development is monitored with ultrasound measurement of ovarian follicles and estradiol levels. When the follicles are mature, HCG is administered to complete the maturation process. The eggs are harvested 36 hours thereafter, using ultrasound guided transvaginal aspiration. Mature oocytes are then cryopreserved and stored.

Then, when that woman wants to use those cryopreserved oocytes, they are thawed, and those which survive, are fertilized by doing ICSI. Success rates are still reported in a wide range from 5% to 30%. This technique has a great potential, but still should be considered as investigational.

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