Fertility Preservation
What is fertility preservation?
It consists of gametes (eggs or sperm) freezing to delay motherhood or fatherhood. It's addressed to women and men wanting to store their genetic material to use it in the future, for medical reason or other reasons.
How does female fertility preservation process work?
Best techniques for female fertility preservation are egg freezing and embryo freezing. In both cases it's necessary to undergo previous ovarian stimulation and egg's retrieval through ovarian puncture.
Once eggs are obtained, those presenting good quality and being mature can be vitrified. In case of embryo vitrification, eggs are inseminated with the partner sperm and, subsequently, the obtained embryos are vitrified. Eggs or embryos are stored in liquid nitrogen at -196ºC until the woman wants to become mother.
When should you undergo fertility preservation process?
Since quality and number of eggs in women are progressively decreasing as they get older, it's advisable to perform this technique when there is still an adequate ovarian reserve, that is, until the age of 35-38. The best moment is indeed before the age of 35, that is the moment of the best egg quality. At older ages, eggs might have a worst survival rate as well as more chromosome abnormalities; therefore pregnancy chances will be reduced.
Fertility preservation for social reasons
Currently, factors like studies or work make many women delay childbearing. Thanks to the advances in cryopreservation techniques, these women can preserve their fertility through egg vitrification. They will be able to use them in the future to get pregnant, avoiding the fertility's decrease due to age and without renouncing to a pregnancy of their own genetic material.
Fertility preservaton for medical reasons
Oncology treatments might seriously or irreversibly affect woman's fertility. In those cases information from a specialist and fast synchronization with the assisted reproduction centre allow patient to preserving her fertility without jeopardizing her pathology's treatment. Thanks to eggs vitrification we can offer these women the opportunity of achieving her dream of becoming mother once they got rid of disease.
This treatment would also be recommended to patients with endometriosis, family history of early menopause, autoimmune diseases or previous to ovarian surgery or gonadotoxic treatment.
How does male fertility preservation process work?
Main medical indication for sperm freezing is when patient is going to receive oncology treatment that might affect his reproductive health. In those cases it's also crucial the celerity of action of the oncologist, who has to refer patient to assisted reproduction clinic, where he should freeze as many samples as possible before treatment starts.
Due to high incidence of testicular cancer among youngsters between the age of 15 and 35, it's very important to suggest them fertility preservation and make it possible for them, so they can enjoy paternity in the future.
There are other indications, not medical, such as freezing semen prior to vasectomy or during assisted reproduction treatment, should the patient not be available when requested or if he has difficulties in collecting the sample in a specific moment.
Planning your IVF at CREA and need diagnostic testing services?
Our collaborator Better2Know can help you to arrange all the tests you require at home in the UK or other countries, before you travel for your IVF treatment.
Better2Know is a world leading private provider of diagnostic testing services. We have over 350 clinics across the United Kingdom and 5000 clinics around the world. Better2Know also has a network of nurses who can take your samples quickly and conveniently in the comfort of your own home. We specialise in in-vitro fertilisation testing and sexual health. Our trained advisors will be able to give you all the care and information you need when choosing the tests that are right for you. Contact Better2Know on +44 20 7099 0955 or via web chat to discuss your IVF testing needs and to book your tests now.
We want all our patients to feel supported, comfortable and in good hands
Our patients come first, they are our number one concern. That's why we have a dedicated team of personnel made up of totally committed professionals, whose main tasks are outstanding work ethics and performance. We offer the best care quality.
We have a tailor-made international department set up specially to take care of our visitors from overseas. Their mission is to forge a direct link between the patient's medical team in their home country, and the one in CREA. This allows for a smooth flow of information, and lets the team deal with any unforeseen issues in good time.
To contact us, please mail to international@creavalencia.com
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