Embryo Freezing

Process:

• Eggs are fertilized in a lab through in vitro fertilization (IVF).
• If needed, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is used, where a single sperm is directly injected into an egg to improve fertilization, particularly in cases of male factor infertility.
• The resulting embryos develop for a few days before being frozen using vitrification, a rapid freezing technique that prevents ice crystal formation.

Purpose:

• Helps individuals or couples preserve fertility before medical treatments that may impact reproductive health.
• Allows for delayed parenthood while maintaining embryo viability.
• Provides an option for couples undergoing IVF to store excess embryos for future use.

Storage:

• Embryos can remain frozen for years without significant decline in viability.
• Vitrification (flash freezing) enhances survival rates upon thawing.

Future Use:

• When ready, embryos are thawed and transferred into the uterus to attempt pregnancy.
• Frozen embryo transfer (FET) can be timed to optimize implantation success.