Egg Vitrification
Technique in which the eggs are frozen to preserve the woman's chances of becoming a mother.
Egg vitrification is the technique in which the eggs are frozen to preserve the woman’s fertility so she can have children whenever she wants. The characteristics of the eggs remain intact.
Who is the technique for?
- Single women who want to keep open the option to become moms. The quality of the ovarian reserve begins to drop at the age of 34-35, and worsens drastically by age 38, reducing a woman’s chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy baby.
- Women with low ovarian reserve. Age is an important fertility factor in this situation. Vitrifying the eggs as soon as possible provides a great option in these cases.
- Women with complex surgeries of the ovaries, such as endometriosis.
- Women under medical treatment where pregnancy is contraindicated, such as cancer treatment.
- Couples for whom embryo vitrification is not an option for ethical reasons.
How does it work?
- During an initial visit or videoconference, the doctor meets the patient, informs her of the procedure and answers any questions. In the next visit, the doctor provides a detailed report in preparation for the patient’s consent.
- Ovarian stimulation. The woman takes hormones every day to stimulate the ovaries. This phase can last approximately 15 days and requires visiting the clinic every three or four days to track follicle growth using a blood test and ultrasound.
- The egg releasing. Once the ovaries are stimulated, another hormone is administered to induce ovulation. This process is performed in our operating room under sedation, is completely painless, and lasts just 15 minutes. Afterward, the patient is instructed to go home and rest.
- Egg vitrification. Once the eggs are retrieved, they are prepared in the laboratory for vitrification. This entails exposing the eggs to concentrations of cryoprotectants to dehydrate them and prevent the formation of harmful ice crystals. At the same time, their temperature is dropping rapidly to -196 degrees Celsius.
FAQ about egg vitrification
Why is Egg Vitrification a good idea?
The quality of a woman’s eggs worsens after the age of 34-35, and with it her chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy baby. For that reason, vitrification is the perfect solution for women who know they want to be mothers but have not found the right person, or who have ruled out having children for now.
Do the eggs not lose their properties, when vitrified?
No, the vitrification keeps the characteristics of your eggs intact. Therefore, your chances of getting pregnant won’t change over time.
Are there more risks during pregnancy?
Children born from eggs that have been vitrified face no additional complications or risks.
Can I use the vitrified eggs at any age I want?
The eggs can be vitrified indefinitely, but you won’t be able to use them past a certain age. It doesn’t make sense for a 60-year-old woman, for example, to want to be a mother.
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