Overview of Fertility Preservation

Family planning often takes a back seat in a society where careers and success drive people forward. Fertility preservation offers a means of delaying parenthood, which has become a blessing for many busy young couples aiming to have children later in life.

What Is Fertility Preservation?

Fertility preservation involves freezing oocytes (eggs) for women and sperm for men. In some cases, instead of freezing eggs and sperm separately, embryos resulting from fertilized eggs are frozen. Oocyte cryopreservation begins with the extraction of eggs through hormone injections that stimulate the ovaries during ovulation.

These eggs are then carefully frozen at specific temperatures, preserving eggs for fertility. Similarly, healthy sperm is extracted from semen samples and frozen. Alternatively, sperm and eggs can be fertilized in a laboratory, and resulting embryos are frozen for later use.

Storage Duration for Eggs and Embryos

Typically, female eggs, male sperm, or embryos can be safely stored for up to 10 years. They are stored in tanks filled with liquid nitrogen to maintain their viability.

Reasons for Opting for Fertility Preservation

There are several compelling reasons why individuals choose fertility preservation:

Advancing Age

Many couples focused on their careers and planning to have children later opt to freeze their eggs and sperm to mitigate potential age-related infertility.

Cancer Treatment

Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy may opt for fertility preservation to safeguard their fertility, as chemotherapy can significantly impact reproductive function.

Menopause

Women facing premature menopause due to depleted ovarian reserves may opt to preserve remaining eggs with hormone injections for future use, preserving eggs for fertility.

Medical Treatments

Individuals undergoing medical treatments that could impair fertility may opt for preservation to prevent potential infertility issues post-treatment.

Risk Conditions

Couples facing high-risk conditions that could affect fertility, such as exposure to high heat or participation in dangerous sports, may choose to preserve fertility as a precautionary measure.

Conclusion

When ready to conceive, frozen embryos or eggs are thawed and transferred to the female partner's uterus. Fertility preservation costs are affordable and vary by location, making it a viable option for individuals and couples planning for parenthood in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions