Preserving Fertility
Egg and Sperm Freezing is an effective way for women and men to preserve their fertility. Individuals may want to consider Egg or Sperm Freezing if they are considering delaying parenthood for a later stage in their life or if they are undergoing medical treatment and want to protect their fertility from any negative side effects of medication.
Egg Freezing
The quality of a woman’s eggs, her ovarian reserve, diminishes with age while the reproductive organs maintain their ability to carry a pregnancy. The decrease in quality is relatively gradual until the age of 35, after which the rate increases. When egg quality decreases, the chance of pregnancy decreases and the risk of miscarriage and genetic abnormality increases. Egg Freezing offers you flexibility in delaying pregnancy for later in life and allows you to take control of your own biological clock.
What are the steps involved in Egg Freezing?
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Ovarian Stimulation (7 To 10 Days):On Day 2 of the Menstrual Cycle, fertility medications are prescribed to stimulate the growth of multiple follicles in the ovaries. Ultrasound scans and blood tests are used to monitor follicular growth and hormone levels. 36 to 40 hours before the schedule Egg Retrieval, an hCG “trigger” shot is given to induce maturation of the eggs within a scheduled timeframe. |
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Egg Retrieval (OPU):Eggs are retrieved using a thin ultrasound-guided needle during a minor procedure under sedation and are then frozen for later use. |
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Future IVF Cycle:When you are ready for pregnancy, your eggs are thawed and fertilized using ICSI. If you are interested in freezing your eggs, contact Fakih IVF to book an appointment or ask any questions you may have. |
*The above dates are an approximation of an average cycle.
Sperm Freezing
Sperm Freezing is an effective way for men to store sperm for future use, particularly if they want to preserve their fertility while receiving any treatment that may damage sperm quality. Men may store their sperm from natural ejaculate, TESA or MicroTESE, even if they have reduced sperm parameters.
What are the steps involved in Sperm Freezing?
1. Semen Collection:
Semen may be collected at Fakih IVF or at home and brought to the center within an hour, keeping it at room temperature during that time. TESA or MicroTESE may also be used to collect the sperm.
2. Semen Analysis:
The sample is analyzed to see how many cells it contains (sperm count), what percentage of them are able to swim (motility) and how many have a normal shape (morphology).
3. Sperm Freezing:
The sperm cells are frozen using Vitrification (a new flash-freeze technique) and stored for future use.
4. Future IVF or IUI Cycle:
When you are ready to have a child, the sperm is thawed and used to fertilize your wife’s eggs in an IUI or IVF-ICSI Cycle. If you are interested in freezing your sperm, contact Fakih IVF today to book an appointment or ask any questions you may have.
For more information on the relationship between Age and Fertility in women, read the below publication by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine in 2012.
