Oocyte Cryopreservation

Oocyte vitrification is a fast “shock” freezing of biomaterial, which preserves the viability of the future embryo. Oocyte cryopreservation ensures success rate of defrosting up to 98% during IVF. A. Tsyb MRRC is a leader in the field of vitrification. The authors of the patent are a group of employees headed by A.D. Kaprin.

After the puncture, the eggs are placed in a special tube made of cold-resistant sterile material.

Next, the oocytes undergo a specific viability test, and the best ones are prepared for freezing. The clinic takes responsibility for conducting the test, observing certain criteria developed by the European Association.

Next, the tube with the biomaterial is placed in liquid nitrogen, where it can stay for a long time. After all the stages have been completed, the biomaterial is registered in CryoBank.

For the procedure, you must consult the clinic, where you will initially have a conversation with doctors – a gynecologist-obstetrician, a reproductive specialist, who will collect your medical history. Cryopreservation of eggs requires a primary diagnosis, where pathological processes could be identified, and if there is no pathology established, then the woman can proceed with the procedure. Initially, the patient receives special hormonal therapy that stimulates ovulation, with regular ultrasound control. Next, under anesthesia, puncture of the follicles and oocytes is done. After the procedure, the embryologist performs cryopreservation of the eggs. The biomaterial is stored in CryoBank for many years until the IVF procedure begins. Oocyte cryopreservation occurs using vitrification, or using shock freezing; under such conditions, the preservation of the biomaterial can last up to 30 years. Egg freezing is similar to the technology during the IVF procedure.

• radiation therapy and radiology are contraindications for pregnancy, so freezing eggs allows you to give birth to a healthy child in the future;
• diseases of the reproductive system lead to infertility, and then egg freezing comes to the rescue;
• planning pregnancy at a later age. Cryopreservation of eggs helps avoid the risk of genetic diseases in a child, since pregnancy occurs at a late age;
• early menopause in family. Reduced fertility requires oocyte cryopreservation to become pregnant.

Freezing of oocytes is also necessary for women with social indications, which includes unstable marital status during reproductive age, as well as unstable financial status and periods of work.

There are no age restrictions for this procedure. But the possibility of fertilization of eggs obtained at a younger age is much higher. A woman’s fertility depends on the reproductive age range, which varies from 18 to 35 years, but the data changes annually. It is especially important for women who may be going through early menopause to have their oocyte cryopreserved as early as possible. Menopause, which develops at an early age, makes it impossible for eggs to mature and deprives a woman of the opportunity to become a mother. Therefore, applying for an egg freezing procedure will be the best way to have children in the future.

The type of oocyte puncture procedure is similar to in vitro fertilization. Therefore, the occurrence of complications is minimized.

Before cryopreservation, the woman receives gradual hormonal therapy, which avoids complications such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. This complication is a very dangerous condition for the female body; in addition to obvious unpleasant symptoms, serious complications can develop.

Also, after the puncture, slight bleeding may occur, which requires attention from both the patient and the doctor.

The quality of the procedure depends entirely on the doctor’s experience and compliance with recommendations. At A.Tsyb Medical Radiological Research Centre –  branch of the National Medical Research Radiological Centre of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation medical procedures are performed only by specialists with extensive experience using high-quality equipment.

The department of new medical technologies with a group for the treatment of breast diseases includes an operating unit, an embryological unit, an outpatient patient reception unit, and CryoBank. For outpatient reception of patients, the Centre has three obstetrician-gynecologist’s reception rooms, a urologist’s reception room, a treatment room, a sperm collection room, a sperm laboratory, and a Sperm CryoBank.