What is Embryo Freezing?
As a result of assisted fertility techniques such as IVF, multiple embryos are produced. Each of these high-quality embryos has a chance at a successful pregnancy.
To avoid them going to waste, embryo freezing or cryopreservation is used. The frozen embryos may be utilized at a suitable time for a future pregnancy or even help infertile couples achieve their dream of becoming parents.
What is Embryo Freezing?
The terms embryo freezing and cryopreservation are synonymous. It is a form of preserving fertility where embryos are essentially suspended in time until they are needed. Frozen embryo transfer at the optimum time ensures better outcomes in terms of a successful pregnancy.
Properly frozen embryos may theoretically remain viable indefinitely. There are two embryological stages where the freezing process can be done. The first is the cleavage stage, and the second is the blastocyst stage.
The embryo freezing process reduces the cost of fertility procedures and also forgoes the need for any fertility or stimulatory medication to induce ovulation.
Embryo Freezing Cost
Like any other medical procedure, the cost of embryo freezing varies from case to case. The ultimate cost depends on a number of factors, including age, reproductive status, and pre-existing medical issues.
The team at British Cyprus IVF Hospital is always available to answer any queries related to our services and treatments.
How is Embryo Freezing Done?
There are two ways to accomplish embryo freezing:
- Vitrification or Flash Freezing
- Slow-programmable Freezing
Embryo Freezing Process
Water is a basic component of embryonic cells. Although the two methods have many differences, the main goal is to achieve freezing without forming ice crystals. To achieve this goal, cryoprotectants are used.
A cryoprotectant works like an antifreeze and freezes embryo cells without forming ice crystals.
As the name suggests, in the slow-freezing technique, a special machine cools down the embryos gradually, followed by adding a cryoprotectant liquid to freeze them. These embryos are stored in tanks of liquid nitrogen at -196.1 °C or -321 °F. This process takes around two hours to complete.
Vitrification is a relatively newer technique and uses higher levels of cryoprotectant liquid. It allows for instant freezing before the formation of crystals. The storage method and temperature for the frozen embryos are the same for both methods.
Embryo Freezing Success Rate
Throughout the embryo freezing timeline, many things may go wrong. The embryo freezing success rate process depends on the expertise and equipment of the fertility center.
To ensure the effectiveness of embryo freezing and thawing treatments, it is essential that the fertility center provides a high-quality cryopreservation service. While the technological infrastructure plays a critical role, it is not the only factor. The first step is the selection and quality of the embryos to be frozen. Then, choosing the appropriate freezing method and how effectively it is applied by experienced embryologists also has a significant impact on the outcome.
At our hospital, we achieve high success rates in embryo freezing and thawing thanks to our advanced technology and the expertise of our medical team.
Embryo Freezing vs Egg Freezing
The main difference is that frozen embryos are fertilized with sperm, whereas frozen eggs are unfertilized. In general, more viable eggs need to be frozen to ensure pregnancy since they will have to be fertilized first.
The British Cyprus IVF Hospital offers both embryo and egg-freezing services with unmatched success rates.