Cryopreservation of embryos

Cryopreservation of embryos is ultra-rapid freezing at low temperatures for further use in IVF protocols. The program allows the couple to save their embryos for the future to ensure the highest chances of a successful pregnancy and the birth of healthy children. In the Reprolife Private Clinic in Kyiv, couples are offered a full cycle of services: obtaining germ cells, fertilization and cultivation of embryos, their freezing, pre-implantation genetic testing of embryos (PGT) for the possibility of transferring a chromosomally healthy embryo in the future, long-term storage in a cryobank, thawing of embryos and transfer into the uterine cavity when ready to bear a child.

Description of the embryo cryopreservation program

At the current stage of reproductive medicine, embryo freezing is provided by the vitrification method. Embryos are immersed in liquid nitrogen at -196°C for ultra-fast cryopreservation. A special substance is used to carry out the program – a cryoprotectant, which prevents the formation of ice crystals that damage cells.

Each embryo is frozen on a separate carrier (cryotheque). The cost of cryopreservation of embryos at the Reprolife Medical Center depends on the number of carriers used and the duration of their storage.

When the method of embryo cryopreservation is used

Cryopreservation is recommended in the following situations:

• after the IVF protocol, embryos of good quality are left, and they can be used to plan children in the future;
• before transferring the embryo into the uterine cavity, preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) should be performed to rule out genetic and chromosomal diseases;
• the female body is not ready to carry a pregnancy, therefore the transfer of the embryo is postponed for a certain period;
• embryos will be transferred to a surrogate mother for further gestation according to medical indications;

At the Reprolife Reproductive Medicine Clinic, cryo-freezing of embryos is widely used in the Delayed Motherhood program. After 30-35 years, the number and quality of eggs decreases in a woman, which reduces the probability of independent conception of a healthy child. The partner may also have diseases or risk factors that negatively affect sperm quality. If the couple is not yet ready to become parents, but plans to have children in the future, it is recommended to save chromosomally healthy embryos. This increases the chances of conceiving and having a child even at a late reproductive age.

Cryopreservation of embryos: pros and cons

The main advantages of vitrification of embryos:

• high probability of successful birth of a child at any age;
• preservation of embryos for an unlimited period;
• carrying out gentle IVF protocols without hormonal preparation to avoid ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome;
• reducing the cost of subsequent IVF programs;
• the possibility of postponing the birth of a child to a later period without losing the quality of genetic material, which is possible only at a young reproductive age.

It is important to know that the effectiveness of IVF programs depends most on the female reproductive age and ovarian reserve (stock of eggs). The highest rates of IVF efficiency and the lowest cost of the IVF program up to 30-35 years. Indicators of chromosomal disorders in embryos at this reproductive age of the expectant mother are the lowest.

There are no disadvantages in the technology of vitrification of embryos. The only nuance is the risk of damage during freezing and defrosting. Thanks to modern and highly effective freezing methods and careful preparation for the program in our clinic, this indicator is insignificant – after thawing, more than 99% of embryos fully retain their ability to implant.

How does cryopreservation of embryos take place

The material is obtained during the classic IVF protocol, which consists of the following stages:

•  Examination for both partners participating in the program.
• Hormonal stimulation of follicle growth (lasts 11-12 days), which is carried out according to a short or long protocol, taking into account the indicators of reproductive health and ovarian reserve (stock of eggs) of a woman.
• Puncture of follicles to obtain mature eggs (lasts 10-25 minutes).
• Obtaining a partner’s sperm sample (donor material can be used if indicated), ejaculate processing, and preparation of viable spermatozoa.
• Fertilization of the egg cell in vitro, which is carried out by the ICSI method (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) if necessary.
• Cultivation of embryos up to 5-7 days (blastocyst stage) in a specialized modern embryological laboratory.

Embryo freezing during IVF is performed after a morphological examination of the embryos and, as indicated, after a biopsy of the trophectoderm (cells of the future placenta) for further preimplantation genetic testing of the embryos (PGT). Next, embryologists treat the cells with a cryoprotectant and freeze them ultra-fast. Cryopreserved embryos on carriers are placed in the Reprolife cryobank for storage at a stable temperature.

Advantages of cryopreservation of embryos at the Reprolife Clinic in Kyiv

All kinds of assisted reproductive technologies are available at the medical center to help married couples conceive, carry and give birth to a healthy child. We use modern methods of cryopreservation and storage of embryos, which minimize damage and ensure high success of the IVF program.

In 78% of cases, after the cryotransfer of a chromosomally healthy embryo into the uterine cavity, pregnancy occurs on the first attempt. This indicator corresponds to the best global standards of reproductive medicine.

Why patients choose the Reprolife Clinic:

• reproductive specialists and embryologists with many years of experience, who regularly improve their knowledge and technologies, are members of the European and American Association of Reproductive Medicine (ESHRE, ASRM), the Ukrainian Association of Reproductive Medicine (UARM);
• use of the most modern treatment methods and technologies, recognized as evidence-based medicine, which we use for our patients;
• personal treatment programs considering all the wishes and characteristics of a specific patient;
• the opportunity to undergo a full examination of your reproductive health;
• every specialist of our clinic is fully involved only in the best result for our patients – the birth of healthy children in families;
• friendly and ethical attitude of the staff;
• guarantee of confidentiality of medical information of our patients;
• acceptable cost of services that fully corresponds to their quality.

At a consultation with a reproductive specialist in our clinic, you will be able to undergo an examination of your reproductive health, find out how the embryo preservation program is carried out, and what kind of preparation is required. To make an appointment with a reproductive specialist, call us at the phone numbers listed at the top of the page, request a callback, or use the online chat.