Fertility Preservation

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1. Sperm cryo preservation
– short term freezing
– long term freezing
– medical reasons

2. Female fertility preservation
– Egg freezing
– Embryo freezing
– Ovarian tissue freezing
– Onco fertilTty

We understand that you may need to make an important decision about preserving your fertility.

Uncertainty about your future fertility itself is daunting enough, but we have seen many times that freezing your cells in advance is very helpful in multiple ways during and after your treatment. This freezing option is even beneficial for those who haven’t thought about starting a family. You have choices to preserve your fertility, so you can start or grow your family in the future.

The science of IVF has an additional branch called cryo preservation in which the human eggs, sperm and embryo can be stored for much longer time period This sometimes is also called as freezing as the storing procedure involves freezing temperatures much below zero.

It is helpful for couple where:

• If due to some reason the husband cannot be around on the day of wife’s treatment, then we can cryo preserve his semen in advance,
• Similarly if needed (eg: before chemotherapy) we can cryo preserve the eggs ,
• Also the embryos can be cryo preserved in a situation of need (eg: patient not ready for embryo transfer or availability of surplus good quality embryo)

Sperm Cryo Preservation

Semen cryo preservation or semen freezing is a procedure for men to preserve their semen in our bank, so that this sample can be used in future treatment.

Short term freezing

In this type of freezing the semen storage can be done for few days or few months. This is often done in cases when the woman is already going under IVF treatment and the husband’s semen is stored in case the husband can not provide sample on given day.

Long term freezing

In this type of freezing the semen storage is done for at least 12 months or more than that. This is usually done in cases when the husband would not be available for the IVF treatment, so freezing is done in advance.

Medical reasons

Many medical treatments can damage sperm quality, including some cancer treatments radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Some men choose to preserve their reproductive cells before they go for such treatments.

Female fertility preservation

Female fertility can be protected and preserved through different options depending on your specific circumstances, including:

• Egg freezing
• Embryo freezing
• Ovarian tissue freezing

HOPE IVF SMART SCIENCE: Choosing to freeze your eggs doesn’t mean you’re robbing yourself of viable eggs from your egg supply (ovarian reserve). Some women who freeze their eggs don’t use them because they later fall pregnant naturally.

Egg freezing

Egg freezing allows a woman to store eggs to preserve fertility. When you’re ready to use your eggs, they are thawed and fertilised before being implanted into your uterus. The process generally takes a couple of weeks, and can be fast-tracked for patients who need urgent medical treatment.

HOPE IVF tip: Female fertility declines with age. Egg freezing (for non-medical purposes) is best done before you’re 35.

Embryo freezing

Surplus good quality embryo can also be preserved; they can be thawed in your next treatment cycle.

If as a couple you want to create embryos but not use them now, you may wish to freeze embryos (fertilised eggs) for future use. This process can also be fast-tracked for patients who need urgent medical treatment.

Ovarian tissue freezing

Removing ovarian tissue for freezing is a relatively new technique. When you’re ready, the tissue is grafted back into your pelvis and may be able to begin producing mature eggs. You can then get pregnant through a modified IVF treatment.

ONCO FERTILITY

Egg and sperm freezing is a very viable option for men and women who wish to preserve their fertility cells before going for a chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Few months after the therapy they can utilize these preserved sperms/eggs and be a smart and happy parent.

When should I become interested in the fertility protection ?

One has to think about protecting the fertility for the future already prior to the oncological treatment, because chemotherapy and radiotherapy very often result in its loss. Chances of preserving the fertility depend on few factors:

• Age,
• Fertility prior to the treatment,
• Type of therapy used – radiated area and dose of both radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Their action may damage or destroy the ova (or sperm) and result in  premature menopause. It may also lead to problems with implantation of the embryo in the uterus or maintaining the pregnancy.

How to protect fertility ?

There are few ways. One of the most commonly used methods is to freeze the ova or sperm. HOPE IVF offers freezing and storing the ova and sperm. This procedure is mostly selected by patients who are young women , i.e. those whose best fertility lasts until the age of 35, being treated for malignancies.

Ovarian tissue or embryos may also be frozen. Similar to frozen ova, they are afterwards used in in vitro procedure.

Frozen biological material may be stored for many years to be used for fertilization or implantation.

Remember that at least 6 months must pass since the cancer treatment is finished until a woman starts trying to get  pregnant.