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Fertility Preservation
Fertility preservation is the proactive step of safeguarding your ability to have children in the future. Many people consider fertility preservation if they are:
Undergoing medical treatments (such as chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery) that may affect fertility.
Health conditions that could impact reproductive health.
Not ready to start a family now but want to keep the option open for the future.
Options include:
Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation): Eggs are retrieved and frozen for future fertilisation.
Sperm freezing: A simple, effective method to store sperm long term.
Embryo freezing: Fertilised embryos are frozen and stored.
Egg Freezing
Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a medical process that allows women, or people with ovaries, to preserve their eggs for use in the future. This option is becoming increasingly popular and offers a way to extend fertility beyond the natural decline that occurs with age. Importantly it does not offer a guarantee of success but can increase your chances of having a baby in the future.
Understanding Egg Freezing: A Path to Fertility Preservation
People who are not in a position to conceive but would like to in the future.
Fertility preservation before cancer treatments or other medical therapies that can affect fertility.
Those undergoing gender-affirming hormone therapy.
A way for couples starting IVF to increase chances for future siblings that mantains reproductive autonomy.
Who Chooses Egg Freezing?
After the initial work up the process typically takes about two weeks:
Hormonal Stimulation and Monitoring
You’ll self-administer hormone injections to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs. During this time, there will be clinic visits for on average 1-3 ultrasounds to monitor your response and adjust medications as needed.Trigger Shot
When the eggs are mature, a "trigger" injection is administered to complete their development, and egg retrieval is scheduled about 36 hours later.Egg Collection
Egg retrieval is a short, minimally invasive procedure performed under light sedation or anaesthesia. Using an ultrasound-guided needle inserted through the vaginal wall, eggs are carefully collected from the ovaries. The procedure usually takes 15-30 minutes, followed by a rest period. Before going home you will be told how many eggs were collected in total. The following day an update is provided on how many were suitable for freezing.Freezing (Vitrification)
The mature eggs are rapidly frozen using vitrification, an advanced freezing technique that preserves egg quality by preventing ice crystals. They are stored safely until you are ready to use them.
Multiple egg freezing cycles may be needed to collect an optimal number to improve chances.
How Does Egg Freezing Work?
If you have a Mirena IUD, it does not need to be removed to proceed with egg freezing. The timing of cycles can be arranged flexibly to fit your schedule, making the process as convenient as possible.
Tailored treatment plans can minimise injections needed and improve the overall experience by decreasing treatment burden.
Egg freezing offers a proactive way to take control of your fertility future with growing success thanks to advances in technology and personalized care. Speaking with a fertility specialist can help you understand if this is the right option for your unique situation.
Making It Convenient for You
Sperm Freezing
Understanding Sperm Freezing: A Path to Fertility Preservation
Sperm Freezing allows people to store sperm for possible use in the future through treatments such as IVF or intrauterine insemination (IUI).
Those with certain health conditions that may impact sperm production over time.
People about to have medical treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery that could affect fertility.
People assigned male at birth planning gender-affirming treatments that could reduce fertility.
Men working in high-risk jobs or environments that may affect reproductive health.
Some people even store sperm prior to vasectomy.
Anyone wanting the reassurance of stored sperm for future family planning.
Who Chooses Sperm Freezing?
Sperm freezing, also called sperm cryopreservation, is a process where sperm are collected, frozen, and stored for future use. The steps usually involve:
Collection – Sperm is most often collected through masturbation at the clinic. In some cases, surgical retrieval may be needed if sperm cannot be collected naturally.
Analysis – The sample is checked in the laboratory to assess sperm quality and number before freezing.
Freezing – The sperm are mixed with a protective solution and carefully frozen using liquid nitrogen at extremely low temperatures.
Storage – Frozen sperm are stored securely and can remain viable for many years.
Future use – When needed, sperm are thawed and can be used in fertility treatments such as IVF or IUI.
This process allows sperm to be preserved for potential use later, although outcomes can vary depending on individual circumstances.
How Does Sperm Freezing Work?
Embryo Freezing
People undergoing IVF who have additional embryos not transferred in the same cycle.
People not ready to start a family right away but want to preserve fertility options.
Those about to have medical treatments (such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery) that could affect fertility.
People who wish to try for more than one pregnancy from a single IVF cycle.
Individuals or couples who want the reassurance of storing embryos for future family planning such as those starting their families later in life but hoping for more than one child.
How Does Embryo Freezing Work?
Embryo freezing takes place as part of an IVF cycle and involves several key steps:
Hormonal stimulation and monitoring - a personalised treatment plan is created to optimise egg numbers ready for collection.
Egg collection and fertilisation – Eggs are collected from the ovaries and fertilised with sperm in the laboratory to create embryos.
Embryo development – The embryos are carefully monitored as they grow in the lab, usually for 5 to 6 days.
Freezing (vitrification) – Suitable embryos are rapidly frozen using a technique called vitrification, which protects them from damage during freezing.
Storage – Embryos are stored securely in liquid nitrogen at very low temperatures and can remain viable for many years.
Future use – When ready, embryos can be thawed and transferred to the uterus in a process called frozen embryo transfer (FET).
This process allows embryos to be preserved for possible use in future fertility treatment, though success rates may vary depending on individual factors.
Who Chooses Embryo Freezing?