The Procedure Of Embryo Freezing – Part I

Previously, if a couple produced more than three embryos in one cycle, the surplus embryos were discarded. Now they can be frozen and replaced at a later stage. The freezing of embryos is not in itself a form of treatment. However it opens up a lot more possibilities for women and can help to make treatment more efficient and less debilitating. The main attraction of embryo freezing is that it makes it possible to have further attempts at conception without repeated cycles of ovarian stimu¬lation and egg collection, and many women understandably prefer to avoid the discomfort and risks of both. Embryo freez¬ing can be particularly important for women nearing the meno¬pause, who may find that their ability to produce eggs declines very suddenly. It can also be an important safety feature for those who experience ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. However, there are a number of risks and issues that need to be taken into account by any woman who is considering having embryos frozen.

The technology to freeze embryos has been around for a while and the first baby was born from a frozen embryo in 1984. As yet, treatment using frozen eggs is not possible in this country. Surplus eggs produced during a routine IVF cycle cannot them¬selves be stored for future use. They have to be fertilised first, and then stored as embryos.

Most clinics will only freeze good-quality embryos. A woman might produce a lot of eggs, they might fertilise successfully, but then she might be told that they cannot be frozen. Although it is disappointing, the fact is that not all embryos survive the freezing and thawing process, and the risks are greater for lower-quality embryos.

Shirley M. Duran is a mother of two and an author of a variety of related lifestyle issues and topics with which has helped hundreds of mothers become pregnant. If you have any pregnancy questions for which you need answers, it is recommended to visit: http://mypregnancyquestions.info/

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