Cryopreservation

IVF may result in many extra embryos which can be cryopreserved and thawed for later use. The technology for freezing these embryos is called vitrification. It has dramatically improved the chances of attaining pregnancy from 1 cycle of IVF.

It is a process to preserve sperms for future use. The frozen sperms retain their capacity to fertilize eggs and are excellent to create a backup. The conditions for semen freezing are as follows:

• A medical condition or treatment that may affect the sperm count
• Prior to a vasectomy
• Low sperm count or the quality of sperm is deteriorating
• Difficulty producing a sample on the day of fertility treatment
• Possibility of not being present on the day of fertility treatment

Women have a finite number of eggs, and therefore, their ability to conceive lasts only till the eggs are available. By preserving the eggs via freezing, a woman can become pregnant whenever she is ready. Candidates for egg freezing are:

• Women diagnosed with cancer who may need chemotherapy/radiotherapy, which is toxic for oocytes
• Women who do not have a partner or who do not wish to have children presently 
• As part of ART treatment