Egg Freezing or Oocyte Cryopreservation It is a procedure that involves the use of cryo-preservation of female germ cells, i.e. eggs, to be fertilized with sperm outside the body by assisted reproductive technologies at appropriate intervals.
Egg Freezing is the most complete preservation of oocytes from stimulation, selection and embryos from the ovary through the process of freezing the oocytes in a standard sterile room with proper temperature and humidity control. Currently, the innovative preservation of oocytes is used in liquid nitrogen at –196 °C. All frozen oocytes are inactivated and unchanged, but the oocytes remain the same quality and efficiency for Assisted Reproductive Technology: ART. Egg Freezing is a medical innovation to preserve egg cells in case of increasing the chances of pregnancy in the future or during the time when the spouse is ready and suitable.
As a woman ages, the number and quality of eggs gradually decline, causing infertility, the risk of having a baby with a chromosomal abnormality, miscarriage or other complications. Therefore, Egg Freezing at an appropriate age will get quality and adequate number of egg cells and increase the chances of having children in another way.
Egg Freezing has the following process:
- Processes of Egg Freezing
- You can consult our specialist doctor. The first time should come no later than the 2nd day of menstruation. Our medical team will review history regarding changes in sexual characteristics during adolescence, sexual history, illness, sexually transmitted diseases, surgery, drug use, exposure to certain substances, e.g. Radiation, alcohol use, drugs or steroids, chemotherapy, and toxic chemicals, as well as past childbearing history.
- Physical examination and blood test, preliminary screening and internal examination to screen hormone levels and hormone balance in the body. Several hormones play important reproductive roles and are produced from the Hypothalamus and ovaries, such as:FSH (Follicle-stimulating hormone) is a hormone that indicates the functioning of the ovaries.
- TSH hormone is to see the working condition of the thyroid gland.
- The hormone AMH is an indicator of the ability of the ovaries or the number of eggs that can be produced.Prolactin hormone (Prolactin) is an indication of the presence of tumors in the pituitary gland, including abnormalities of sexual development and abnormalities of the internal reproductive organs.
- In some cases, the uterus, fallopian tubes and ultrasound must be assessed to assess abnormalities in the structure of the uterus, size and shape of the uterus, as well as the presence of fibroids or ovarian cysts.
- Our expert medical team will provide oocyte stimulating drugs based on physical examination, analysis and diagnosis.
- Our medical team will make an appointment for an ultrasound (Ultrasound) to see the growth, fertility and size of the oocyte accordingly, along with checking hormone levels to adjust hormone medication. It takes about 8-10 days for this process.
- When the medical team has obtained the egg cells of the desired quality, they will inject the eggs to induce maturation 36 hours after the injection.
- Egg Freezing
After the female oocytes are stimulated with hormones according to the analysis and diagnosis of the medical team until the oocytes are perfect and of the desired size, it will go into Egg Freezing which has the following steps:
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- Anesthesia or short-term intravenous anesthesia will be administered by a team of medical professionals to avoid pain during the procedure.
- Oocyte extraction from the ovary using a specially designed micro-needle is aspirated through the vagina with ultrasound technology for direction. This procedure takes no more than 20-30 minutes to collect the oocytes.
- Egg cells are sent directly to a standardized, sterile laboratory with proper temperature and humidity control and awaiting results to confirm that they can be frozen.
- Take the egg cells into the rapid freezing process and store them in liquid nitrogen at –196 degrees Celsius. It is so that all cells cease to function and remain unchanged, but the oocytes are still of the highest quality and efficiency ready for future use.Egg Freezing can be stored forever as long as liquid nitrogen is frozen. The quality will not change at all. The stored egg cells can be used to treat future reproductive problems.
Percentage of successful pregnancy with oocyte freezing and preservation
The success of getting pregnant with Egg Freezing depends on many factors such as:
- Physical health problems, congenital diseases, hormone levels and balance, or stress, etc.
- The number and quality of oocytes depends on the age at the time of oocyte collection. Usually, in females under 35 years of age, the number and quality of egg cells are of higher quality than older females. The likelihood and success rate of pregnancy are also high.
Does egg freezing have any effects or complications in infants and mothers?
In 1986, the world’s first baby born from Egg Freezing was born. Now that person can still live a normal and healthy life. According to various research, it can be confirmed that Egg Freezing is safe with no side effects for both the baby and the mother, including the chance of chromosomal abnormalities or birth defects in babies are very rare.
Who is suitable for Egg Freezing?
- The egg cells are preserved to prevent certain future complications affecting the baby.
- In case of wanting to do IVF and ICSI, but the husband is unable to ejaculate or there are no sperm cells in the semen or the number of sperm cells is insufficient for mixing.
- People who do not want to have a spouse, especially those over 35 years old but want to have children in the future
- Patients who are at risk of cancer and need radiation or chemotherapy that affects the oocytes and the reproductive system in case they want to have children in the future.
- Females with certain genetic problems that result in premature deterioration of the ovaries, such as Turner syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, etc.
- People who need surgery on the ovaries such as ovarian cysts, ovarian tumors, or chocolate cysts.
