Vitrification Method of Fertility Preservation
Many studies have shown that the vitrification method of cryopreservation increases the chances of pregnancy for women and men opting to preserve their fertility through the several cryopreservation alternatives being offered by New Hope Fertility Center.
What do we offer?
- Egg freezing
- Embryo freezing and Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)
- Ovarian tissue freezing
- Sperm freezing
Vitrification Method of Freezing
New Hope Fertility Center’s founder and medical director – Dr. John Zhang – pioneered the use of modern freezing method of vitrification. Look: Used by our fertility specialists since 2004, vitrification is an advanced technique designed to increase the chance of a successful pregnancy being achieved through fertility preservation. Vitrification is the rapid freeze method of cryopreservation. Extreme, rapid freezing avoids the formation of harmful ice crystals between cells. Why is this important? The vitrification method increases the chances of pregnancy.
How Vitrification Works
Preparing an egg, embryo, ovarian tissue graft, or sperm sample for rapid freezing via vitrification entails:
- Placement in a high concentration of cryoprotectant solution while at room temperature
- Being directly plunged into liquid nitrogen to immediately drop the temperature in a large number of degrees
- Implementing an extreme rapid rate of thawing to prevent damage to cells
Flash-Freezing
Vitrification is a flash-freezing method preventing the formation of ice crystals between cells. Ice crystals can cause damage.
- Cryoprotectants remove surplus water
- 6°F (37°C) to 320°F (-196°C) temperature drop instantaneously
- 99% survival rate
- Safely restores cell back to its original state
Recent 2012 Study Supporting the Vitrification Method for Egg Freezing
A 2012 study compared several parameters using fresh eggs versus eggs frozen using the vitrification method.
Breaking Down Frozen vs. Fresh Eggs (stats from the same patient)
- The survival rate of eggs after thawing = 81%
- Fertilization success of thawed eggs = 79%
- Fertilization success of fresh eggs = 90%
- Continued division of cells in fertilized frozen/thawed eggs = 90%
- Continued division of cells in fertilized fresh eggs = 99%
- Percentage of frozen/thawed eggs reaching blastocyst stage = 35%
- Percentage of fresh eggs reaching blastocyst stage = 51%
More Good News
- The percentage of blastocysts with chromosome abnormalities is the same in both thawed and fresh eggs
- Ongoing pregnancy rates per embryo transferred is the same in both thawed and fresh eggs
Bottom Line
The bottom line from the 2012 study is that it may take may take more frozen eggs to achieve an adequate number of blastocysts. If blastocysts are achieved, the pregnancy success rate after thawing appears to be comparable with fresh blastocysts.
IVF – Egg Freezing
Through In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) a woman’s natural egg production is stimulated with fertility drugs into producing several eggs – 10 to 15 typically per cycle. These eggs are then surgically retrieved and cryopreserved using an advanced technique known as vitrification.
Mini-IVF™
New Hope Fertility Center’s trademarked Mini-IVF™ has been endorsed by Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART). According to her medical needs, a woman 38 or younger is prescribed a minimal amount of fertility medication to produce between three and five quality eggs per fresh Mini-IVF™ cycle. This revolutionary holistic alternative approach is focused on a gentle stimulation protocol.
Natural Cycle IVF™
This is an IVF protocol that does not require any hyperstimulating fertility medications to achieve a viable pregnancy is Natural Cycle IVF™. This holistic IVF protocol is designed to enhance a woman’s natural egg production. It only takes one good egg fertilized with healthy sperm to become pregnant and have a baby.
World Renowned Cryopreservation Experts
It is important to work with a fertility care team having the experience required to design a customized fertility preservation treatment plan meeting your personal needs. To schedule your initial consultation with one of the world renowned fertility preservation experts at New Hope Fertility Center – click the icon below or call 917.525.5496.
