Oocyte Vitrification

What is Oocyte Vitrification?

This technique allows a woman to preserve her fertility when she is at a fertile age and allows her to choose the most opportune moment for her eggs to be fertilized in the future, with the maximum guarantees of success, since vitrification allows you to keep your eggs in perfect condition, regardless of the time that passes.

Indications

La vitrificación de ovocitos está indicada en los siguientes casos:

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Female fertility preservation.

As from the age of 35, women’s fertility declines, their ovarian reserve decreases as well as the quality of their oocytes and this can lead to a reduction in the chances of conceiving a healthy child in women over the age of 38.
Normally this is the average age that a woman makes her first appointment at a fertility clinic. Age can therefore be one of the main causes of infertility nowadays.

This technique is indicated for women who either do not have a partner or simply wish to delay motherhood, with the best guarantees of success in the future.

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Oncology patients undergoing medical treatment.

Cancer or non-cancer patients who are undergoing a medical treatment that may be harmful to their oocytes.

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Endometriosis patients.

Endometriosis patients who want to preserve their fertility due to the effect that this disease can have on their ovarian reserve.

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Poor responders.

Patients with a low response to fertility medication who wish to accumulate oocytes or obtain an adequate number of them to be able to perform a preimplantation genetic diagnosis.

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For ethical, religious or moral reasons.

Couples who for ethical or moral reasons do not wish to freeze embryos and only wish to fertilize a limited number of oocytes and then transfer the resulting embryos.

The results

The survival of the oocytes using this technology in women between 30 and 35 years of age is greater than 95%.
The pregnancy rates achieved are the same as those obtained by using fresh oocytes in an in-vitro fertilization cycle, which will fundamentally depend on the age of the woman at the time of vitrification.

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The survival of the oocytes

Technique

Normally, a single egg is produced in a woman’s natural cycle. Ovarian stimulation consists of administering hormones by subcutaneous injection to obtain more eggs. The entire process is monitored by ultrasound, for which we will be available seven days a week. Depending on the type of protocol used and the rapid response of the ovary, the duration of this process will vary between 10 and 12 days.
Once the follicles reach the appropriate number and size, a hormone called HCG is administered to complete the maturation of the eggs. Approximately 36 hours after administering the HCG, the mature eggs can be aspirated from the ovary.

This procedure consists of the aspiration of the mature oocytes using ultrasound guidance and administrating a gentle sedation to the patient so that she does not feel any type of discomfort. This minor procedure usually takes about 15 minutes.

On the day of this procedure it is recommended not to carry out activities in which you need to be fully alert, such as driving, or activities that require a lot of effort, even though you may feel perfectly well, it is advisable to just relax and take it easy.

This is a cellular solidification process done at low temperatures (-196ºC). The temperatures are reached very quickly to prevent the formation of crystals. Once vitrified the ovules are stored inside straws by means of a closed system that prevents their contact with the liquid nitrogen in which they are immersed in for their conservation, thus ensuring the highest safety conditions.

Questions and answers about Oocyte vitrification.

If you would like more information about our treatments, we are always available to help and answer any of your questions.

Ask us

When is the best age to vitrify my eggs?

Each woman will have to be assessed individually, however the ideal age to have this procedure done is between the ages of 30-35.
As of this age, the ovarian reserve and the quality of the ovules diminish, for this reason and in order to obtain the best chances of success it is recommended to vitrify them before the age of 35.

Will my fertility be affected if, after vitrification, I want to be a mother naturally?

Not at all, the stimulation process does not reduce your fertile capacity, in a similar way to what happens with egg donors, who also keep their fertility intact.

How long can I keep my vitrified eggs?

The ovules do not suffer changes or deterioration during the vitrification process and this allows them to be kept with all their characteristics intact indefinitely.

What kind of side effects can ovarian vitrification cause?

Vitrification itself does not involve any side effects, only the side effects derived from performing an ovarian stimulation cycle may occur.

Are there any side effects for the future baby?

Vitrification does not pose any additional risk to the future baby. There are no differences between children born with vitrified ovules, and those born with ovules after a cycle of in-vitro fertilization without vitrification.

What is the survival rate of the oocytes after vitrification?

Currently the modern techniques used allow survival rates of above 95% in our centre.

What guarantees do I have that my frozen eggs will be useful in the future?

The gestation rates obtained with vitrified eggs depends on the age of the woman at the time of vitrification, these numbers are also the same of those obtained in in-vitro fertilization cycles without vitrification.

What happens when I decide it's time to become a mother?

It is a very simple procedure, it consists of the adequate preparation of the endometrium to receive the embryos obtained after the devitrification of the eggs, their insemination with the semen of the couple or the donor and subsequent cultivation and transfer to the mother's uterus.

Up to what age will I be able to use my oocytes?

The eggs can be kept vitrified indefinitely, but their transfer is recommended before the age of 50, to minimize the risks to the unborn baby and the mother.