Egg Freezing
Oocyte vitrification or egg freezing is the process by which mature eggs or oocytes are collected from a woman’s ovaries and frozen for future use to try for a pregnancy.
Oocyte vitrification or egg freezing is the process by which mature eggs or oocytes are collected from a woman’s ovaries and frozen for future use to try for a pregnancy.
In an egg freezing cycle, fertility drugs are used to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Developing follicles, which contain the eggs, can be seen and monitored using ultrasound scan. When they are large enough, the eggs are removed from the ovary by a minor surgical procedure. The eggs are frozen by a process known as vitrification i.e. rapid freezing in liquid nitrogen.
When a woman subsequently wishes to use her eggs, they are warmed (thawed) and fertilized using ICSI, a type of IVF. If embryos develop, they are transferred, one or two at a time, to the woman’s uterus.
The chance of having a baby under any circumstance is influenced by a number of factors, including female age, previous pregnancy & births, duration of infertility (if applicable), fertility diagnosis, male fertility factors, the stage & quality of embryos transferred and the type of treatment used. These issues are also critical in determining the likely success of egg freezing.
Success rates of egg freezing are improving all the time but they are still not as good as natural conception and also generally less than the success rates of IVF/ICSI using fresh eggs.
While we recommend egg freezing for those who are not in a position to try to conceive, it is important to note that natural attempts at pregnancy, followed by IVF/ICSI using fresh eggs if natural attempts fail, are still superior to egg freezin
Sperm can be cryopreserved (frozen) from ejaculate or from surgically retrieved sources for future use. Frozen sperm can be thawed and used in an ICSI cycle to fertilize eggs.
Sperm may be cryopreserved for a number of reasons.
Following embryo transfer in a fresh IVF / ICSI cycle, a couple may have additional embryos that are of good quality.
These embryos can then be frozen or ‘cryopreserved’, stored and thawed for use at a later date during a Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) treatment cycle
Embryo freezing is a well-established form of assisted conception treatment.
The first birth to result from this procedure occurred in 1984. Embryo cryopreservation allows multiple embryo transfers from a single egg collection.
Not all embryos are suitable for freezing. Embryos must be of adequate quality to endure the freezing and thawing process. Approximately 50% of patients undergoing IVF / ICSI at Merrion Fertility Clinic will have additional good quality embryos available for freezing.
Embryo freezing techniques have improved dramatically over the years. A major development has been the introduction of ‘Vitrification‘, a rapid freezing technique which has now replaced the old method of slow-freezing.
Vitrification works to minimize the amount of cell damage that can occur through ice formation. Instead, embryos are rapidly frozen in a glass-like state. With vitrification, survival rates of embryos have improved from ~70% to >90%.
Merrion Fertility Clinic were the first clinic in Ireland to be licensed to perform this technique.
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, the immediate focus is understandably on prognosis and treatment. An important long-term concern is the impact of that treatment on fertility.
Certain cancer treatments, including radiation, surgery and chemotherapy, can harm fertility and the ability to have a child in the future. The potential impacts of your oncology treatment on fertility and the options available to preserve your fertility should be discussed as soon as possible after diagnosis.
Our experienced team at Merrion Fertility Clinic are here to help you understand your fertility preservation options and to serve as your fertility advocate throughout your cancer journey.
Egg and sperm freezing are now commonly practiced methods of preserving fertility for men and women who have received a cancer diagnosis.
At Merrion Fertility Clinic, we understand that timing is critical when a patient is about to begin cancer treatment. Our team can co-ordinate and prioritize your fertility preservation procedure so that your treatment can begin as soon as possible.
For women who have already gone through cancer treatment, fertility can be assessed using anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels. AMH is a simple blood test which helpful in determining how many eggs are left in the ovaries. Where appropriate, ultrasound examination can also be used to determine antral follicle count, another marker of ovarian reserve.
If you are diagnosed with low ovarian reserve as a result of cancer treatment, we will discuss the options available to you.
If you wish to consider further treatment or investigation, this can be organised via our gynaecology and fertility clinics.
Through a partnership with Irish Cancer Society, female survivors of childhood cancer aged 17-26 can have their fertility needs assessed and referred for further treatment or investigation where indicated.
Each year in Ireland around 200 children are diagnosed with cancer, the treatments for which can cause lifelong damage to fertility, seriously impacting their future chances of ever starting a family of their own.
A partnership between the Irish Cancer Society and Merrion Fertility Clinic aims to ensure that, where possible, lifesaving treatment for children does not come at the cost of their future dreams of parenthood.
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Gender dysphoria describes the condition in which a person whose gender at birth is contrary to the one with which they identify.
A transgender woman is a woman who was assigned male at birth but who identifies as a woman. A transgender man is a man who was assigned female at birth but who identifies as a man. Gender-affirming treatments, including both hormone therapy and surgery, can impair fertility.
At Merrion Fertility Clinic, our team provides fertility preservation counselling and services for adult transgender men and women.
For further information on our transgender services, please contact Merrion Fertility Clinic.
If you are considering your fertility, why not book a consultation with one of our team of doctors?
We are Ireland’s only not-for-profit fertility clinic with over 25 years of experience and excellent rates of success. Closely associated with the National Maternity Hospital, our highly experienced Consultants offer individualised care so you can begin and continue your journey with us.
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* Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays are for patients undergoing treatment – Appointment Only.
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