In the past few decades, the landscape of reproductive medicine has undergone profound transformations, offering renewed hope to countless couples struggling with infertility, individuals facing medical treatments affecting their fertility, and those desiring to delay childbearing for personal or professional reasons.
Embryo cryopreservation is an invaluable tool in this journey, providing not only a second chance for success in IVF but also offering an array of other advantages, such as improved pregnancy rates, the ability to undergo genetic testing for certain conditions, and greater autonomy over reproductive decisions.
In this blog, we will get to know about embryo cryopreservation and the difference between embryo cryopreservation and oocyte cryopreservation.
What is embryo cryopreservation?
Embryo cryopreservation, also known as embryo freezing, is a technique used in assisted reproductive technology (ART) to preserve embryos for future use.
It involves the freezing and storage of embryos at very low temperatures, typically at around -196 degrees Celsius (-321 degrees Fahrenheit), using a process called vitrification.
Difference between embryo and oocyte cryopreservation
Embryo cryopreservation and oocyte cryopreservation (egg freezing) are both methods of cryopreservation of reproductive material for future use, but they differ in the stage of development and the entities being frozen.
Here are the main differences between the two procedures:
Aspect | Embryo cryopreservation | Oocyte cryopreservation |
Stage of development | In this process, embryos are cryopreserved. Embryos are created by fertilizing eggs with sperms in a laboratory setting through in vitro fertilization (IVF). After fertilization, the embryos develop for a few days until they reach a specific stage of development (usually the blastocyst stage) before being frozen for future use. | In oocyte cryopreservation, also known as egg freezing, unfertilized eggs (oocytes) are cryopreserved. These eggs are retrieved from the woman's ovaries during an IVF cycle but are not fertilized with sperms. Instead, they are frozen at the stage they are retrieved and stored for potential future use. |
Purpose and usage | Embryo cryopreservation is primarily used in the context of assisted reproductive technology (ART), particularly for couples undergoing IVF. After an IVF cycle, there may be excess viable embryos that are cryopreserved for future use in case the initial embryo transfer does not result in pregnancy or if the couple desires to have more children in the future. | Oocyte cryopreservation is used for fertility preservation in women who may want to delay childbearing for various reasons, such as pursuing education, career goals, or medical treatments that may impact their fertility. The frozen eggs can be thawed, fertilized with sperms in the future, and used in an IVF cycle to achieve pregnancy. |
Legal and ethical considerations | Freezing embryos can raise complex legal and ethical questions regarding their disposition in case of divorce, death, or changes in the couple's reproductive intentions. Decisions about the future of the embryos may be governed by legal agreements or specific regulations depending on the jurisdiction. | Egg freezing generally involves fewer legal and ethical complexities than embryo cryopreservation, as the eggs belong solely to the individual who froze them. This means the individual has more control over the use and disposition of their frozen eggs in the future |
Success rates | Generally, embryo cryopreservation has higher success rates compared to oocyte cryopreservation. Embryos are frozen at a later stage of development, allowing for better selection of viable embryos for freezing and subsequent use. | Egg freezing success rates have also improved over the years, but they may still be slightly lower compared to embryo cryopreservation, especially when using eggs are frozen at a younger age. |
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Conclusion
In this blog, we explored the concept of embryo cryopreservation, understanding its process and its distinct differences from oocyte cryopreservation (egg freezing). By cryopreserving embryos at specific developmental stages, this technique empowers couples to confidently pursue IVF with the knowledge that they have options for future attempts without undergoing repeated ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval procedures. We delved into the key disparities between embryo and oocyte cryopreservation, shedding light on their unique applications, legal considerations, and success rates.
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