Cryopreservation can help people preserve their fertility so that they can have a baby later
Cryopreservation is the freezing of reproductive materials, including eggs, sperm and embryos, with the goal of preserving fertility. At our Indianapolis fertility clinic, fertility preservation can occur for any number of reasons, such as in response to a cancer diagnosis or as a way to postpone motherhood.
The specialists at our clinic use a process called vitrification for freezing. Vitrification greatly reduces the chance of ice crystals forming within eggs and embryos. Using frozen eggs or embryos to conceive does not increase the risk of birth defects or pregnancy complications. As a result, fertility preservation can be a great way to safely put dreams of parenthood on hold.
Who can cryopreservation help?
Cryopreservation for fertility preservation can help people who are not yet ready to start a family. They know they want to have children someday, but they aren’t quite ready yet. Because fertility declines with age, freezing eggs, sperm or embryos can give patients some peace of mind about waiting to conceive.
Many factors can make a person a good candidate for fertility preservation.
People in their 20s and early-30s. The fertility of a person with ovaries typically peaks in their 20s and begins to decline in their mid-30s. A person in their 20s who would like to postpone parenthood until their late-30s or early-40s should consider freezing eggs.
Those at risk for premature ovarian failure. Fertility preservation through vitrification can be helpful for a person with a family medical history of early menopause. This refers to the loss of ovarian function before the age of 40.
Cancer patients. Freezing eggs, sperm or embryos before starting cancer treatments can help protect fertility. Cancer treatments can damage fertility, so freezing reproductive materials can ensure patients have healthy eggs, sperm or embryos to use when they want to conceive later.
People in the military. As injuries from combat can affect a person’s reproductive system, military personnel can gain peace of mind by pursuing fertility preservation.
The team at our Indianapolis fertility clinic works with patients to find the best cryopreservation options for their unique situation and needs.
What can you expect from the different fertility preservation options?
When a person is ready to pursue fertility preservation, we guide them through the process. This begins with taking a medical history and ordering some basic fertility tests. The results can help the doctor determine if a patient can benefit from egg, sperm or embryo freezing.
Egg freezing. This option involves the patient taking ovulation induction medications that cause the maturation of numerous eggs. When the eggs are an ideal size, a doctor retrieves them. The doctor then sends the eggs to the lab where a specialist flash freezes and stores them.
Sperm freezing. People with testes who would like to preserve their fertility will provide a semen sample that a lab freezes and stores.
Embryo freezing. If a couple knows they want to have children together, they can preserve their embryos for later use. This process involves a doctor retrieving eggs from the patient and an embryologist fertilizing the eggs with sperm. Next, the lab freezes and stores the embryos.
The knowledgeable team at our Indianapolis fertility clinic provides comprehensive fertility services to help patients grow their family now or in the future. Contact us for more information about our fertility services, including cryopreservation.
