Preserving Fertility

What are the options available for women to preserve fertility?

Freezing of eggs through a multi-step laboratory procedure to preserve viability.  Eggs can later be thawed and fertilized, and embryos implanted to achieve pregnancy. 

Removal of ovarian tissue from the ovarian cortex  and freezing for re-implantation into the body at a later date.  The cryopreserved tissue can be transplanted after chemotherapy to provide both gametes and hormonal production.  Ovarian tissue storage can provide a backup to egg freezing for additional fertility insurance.  Thousands of eggs may potentially be recovered from ovarian tissue, improving the opportunity for childbearing dramatically. 

Who does egg and ovarian tissue freezing benefit? 

Professional, career-minded women or women without a partner who wish to have children at a later date, when career demands and pressures are less.

Women confronted with the decision to undergo radiation or chemotherapy due to the onset of cancer at an early age, or faced with the possibility of having their ovaries removed.   

Preserving Life 

Although not clinically available yet, preliminary research suggests that eggs and ovarian tissue may be one of the best, if not only, source of compatible stem cells if the egg donor develops cancer or another devastating disease later in life.  Eggs and tissue not used for fertility can be kept in storage for possible therapeutic use as the woman’s life progresses.

Egg Freezing Process