Cryopreservation is a technique that uses very low temperatures to preserve structurally intact living cells and tissues for extended periods of time. Moreover, this process generally involves the cooling of the biological material to typically -196 degrees Celsius, which is the temperature of liquid nitrogen, a commonly used cryogenic fluid. At this temperature, biological activity, including the biochemical reactions that lead to cell death, effectively stops, allowing the material to be stored for a long time.
In the context of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), cryopreservation plays a really significant role. Here are a few reasons why:
Embryo Storage: During an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle, several eggs are typically harvested. Furthermore, these eggs are then fertilized, often resulting in more embryos than can be safely implanted in the womb at one time. That said, cryopreservation allows these extra embryos to be saved for future use. Also, this can increase the overall success rate of IVF, as it provides the opportunity for additional attempts without requiring another full cycle of hormonal stimulation and egg retrieval.
Sperm and Egg Storage: Cryopreservation can also be used to store sperm and eggs. This can be particularly important for individuals or couples who wish to have children in the future but are facing fertility-threatening circumstances, such as certain medical treatments (e.g., chemotherapy for cancer) or advancing age.
Donor Sperm and Eggs: Cryopreservation is also vital in the storage of donor sperm and eggs. Besides, this allows for more flexibility and control over timing in fertility treatments.
Fertility Preservation: Cryopreservation can be used to preserve fertility in individuals who aren’t currently facing fertility issues but want to ensure they can have children in the future. Additionally, this could include women who wish to delay childbearing for personal or professional reasons.
Genetic Testing: Sometimes embryos are tested for genetic conditions before implantation (a process known as Preimplantation Genetic Testing or PGT). During this process, embryos are often cryopreserved until the test results are back.
Fertility Preservation in Children: For children who have to undergo treatments that may compromise their future fertility (such as certain cancer treatments), cryopreservation of reproductive tissue (ovarian or testicular tissue) offers a potential method to preserve their fertility.
Decreased Risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS): In some high-risk patients, all embryos may be frozen and transferred in a subsequent cycle to decrease the risk of OHSS, a condition that can occur due to the hormonal medications used in the IVF process.
In a nutshell, we can say that cryopreservation is a cornerstone of modern assisted reproduction, increasing the flexibility, success rates, and safety of these treatments.
Key Benefits of Cryopreservation
While we just talked about the relevance of Cryopreservation in ART, let’s go into more detail on the many benefits of cryopreservation, particularly in the context of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART):
Optimizing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): Cryopreservation allows the storage of multiple embryos created during an IVF cycle and this is where it comes as a crucial component of ART. If a cycle fails or if a couple wants to have more children in the future, stored embryos can be thawed and used without the need for another full cycle of hormone stimulation and egg retrieval. This can save time, money, and emotional strain for individuals and couples undergoing fertility treatments and offer Embryo Freezing Centre in Mumbai India.
Future Family Planning: Cryopreservation centre mumbai allows for future family planning by preserving surplus embryos from an IVF cycle. Moreover, this provides a potential for future siblings with a strong genetic link.
Reducing Risks: Embryo cryopreservation can decrease the risk of multiple gestations by limiting the number of embryos transferred to the uterus in one cycle. Besides, extra embryos can be frozen and stored for later use, which means that fewer embryos need to be transferred at a time. Furthermore, this can reduce the risks associated with multiple pregnancies and births.
Fertility Preservation: This is particularly important for individuals who are diagnosed with cancer or other diseases that might affect their fertility. Treatments like chemotherapy and radiation can damage the reproductive organs, making it difficult or impossible to have children in the future. Hence, cryopreserving sperm, eggs, or reproductive tissue before these treatments allows these individuals a chance to have biological children in the future.
Genetic Preservation: Cryopreservation Clinics also allows for genetic preservation. For endangered species, for example, cryopreservation of sperm, eggs, or embryos Freezing Mumbai can help in conservation efforts. On the other hand, in the case of humans, certain genetic diseases or conditions can be tested for in embryos, and healthy embryos can be selected for transfer.
Benefiting Donor Programs: In egg and sperm donor programs, cryopreservation helps create a bank of these reproductive cells, allowing recipients more flexibility in terms of when they can undergo fertility treatments
Age-related Fertility Decline: For women who wish to delay childbearing for personal or professional reasons, egg freezing offers a method to counteract the age-related decline in fertility.
Helping with Medical Transition: For transgender individuals, cryopreservation can allow them to preserve their fertility before undergoing hormone replacement therapy or surgery as part of their transition.
Research and Medical Advancements: Cryopreservation of embryo or sperms of various cells and tissues allows for continued medical research. By freezing cells and tissues, researchers have more time to study them, leading to advancements in medical and biological understanding.
So, we can say that the benefits of cryopreservation clinics are vast and varied, offering numerous opportunities for individuals and couples, advancing scientific research, and playing a crucial role in preserving and protecting fertility.
However, it is highly crucial to pick the right IVF clinic or center as you plan to preserve your fertility via cryopreservation.
