What are the potential risks of cryopreservation?

There may be several reasons to delay having a baby for a few or more years. You may have to undergo medical treatment or surgery, which could prevent you from conceiving in the future. Or you simply want to take some years for yourself and your spouse before becoming a parent.

Whatever the reason, it could be problematic as a later pregnancy would also mean that your eggs will be older. 

An increasing number of women are consulting Dr. Hrishikesh Pai, founder of Babies & Us one of leading IVF Center in Mumbai, about cryopreservation. For some it is due to not finding a suitable partner and want to ensure they have healthy eggs when they do. Others want to postpone childbearing and focus on other personal ambitions. 

Dr. Hrishikesh Pai has more than 30 years of expertise and has performed more than 25,000 treatments in the fields of obstetrics, gynecology, and infertility.

Let us understand what the cryopreservation treatment in Mumbai entails and any potential risks involved.

What is cryopreservation?

Cryopreservation is the process of preserving biological materials by freezing them at extremely low temperatures. It completely halts all biological activities and metabolic reactions that could result in DNA destruction and cell death. 

The cryopreservation technique is used in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) to freeze the eggs, sperms, or embryos. The eggs, sperm, or embryos are thawed and fertilized or used in a fertility therapy cycle when they are needed.

Please schedule an appointment with Dr. Hrishikesh Pai; he pioneered the oocyte freezing technique in India. With his expertise and decades of experience in his field, he can provide you with the best cryopreservation treatment in Mumbai.

Semen Cryopreservation (Sperm freezing)

Many men have found hope in sperm freezing, which allows them to maintain their potency and use it subsequently to father a child. In India, sperm freezing is prevalent, and many people opt for it.

A blood test will be required to check that the male is free of any infectious diseases. Once this is through, The male provides fresh semen sample at the clinic. Then the semen is cleansed, and the healthy sperms are removed and frozen. 

Oocyte cryopreservation (Egg freezing)

Egg freezing was created as a treatment option for cancer patients undergoing fertility-threatening chemotherapy and those suffering from other ailments. 

Unfertilized eggs retrieved from your ovaries are frozen and kept for later use. A frozen egg can be thawed in a laboratory, mixed with sperm, and planted in your uterus during the in-vitro fertilization procedure.

You will probably have a few screening blood tests before starting the process, including:

Testing of the egg: This procedure involves examining the ovarian reserve. On day three of your menstrual cycle, your doctor may test the estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone levels in your blood to evaluate the quality and quantity of your eggs.

Screening for infectious diseases: You will be tested for hepatitis B and C, and HIV, as well as other infectious diseases.

The multiple steps of egg freezing:

Ovarian stimulation: Injectable fertility medicines are used to induce ovulation. Instead of a single egg that matures once a month, numerous eggs are produced. Typically 2 types of medications may be required; drugs to stimulate the ovary and inhibit premature ovulation.

Potential risk: In rare cases, this may cause your ovaries to become enlarged and painful shortly after ovulation or egg harvesting. This can cause ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome. 

Egg retrieval technique: 

Egg retrieval is usually performed under anesthesia at a doctor’s clinic. An ultrasonography probe is placed into your vagina to detect the follicles. 

A needle is then inserted into a follicle through the vaginal canal. The egg is removed from the follicle using a suction device attached to the needle. The doctor can extract multiple eggs, and studies indicate that the more eggs collected every cycle — up to 15 — the better the chances of a successful pregnancy.

Potential risk: You may experience cramping after egg retrieval. Because your ovaries are still swollen, you may experience fullness or pressure for several days.

Freezing the egg: Your unfertilized eggs are chilled to subzero temperatures shortly after being harvested to preserve them for later use. 

The most popular method for freezing eggs is called vitrification. Rapid cooling is combined with high quantities of chemicals (cryoprotectants) that prohibit the formation of ice crystals during the freezing process.

The composition of an unfertilized egg makes it slightly more challenging to freeze and result in a successful pregnancy than the makeup of a fertilized egg (embryo). 

Walk into any of our IVF centers in Mumbai to consult with our IVF specialists about your options.

Embryo Cryopreservation

Some couples may want to preserve healthy fertilized eggs for future use due to life choices or medical conditions. Sometimes couples who have had an IVF cycle choose to freeze the left over embryos for future use. Blood tests are taken to determine that both individuals are free of any infectious diseases.

Embryo cryopreservation uses in-vitro fertilization, a method in which eggs are taken from a woman’s ovary and incubated with sperm in the laboratory to produce embryos. The embryos are then preserved and can be thawed and implanted in a woman’s uterus later.

The potential risk observed so far has been mainly discomfort during the ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval procedures. The emotional risk is that egg or embryo freezing can make you hopeful for a future pregnancy, but success cannot be guaranteed.

What are my chances of pregnancy?

When you are ready to use them, your frozen eggs will be thawed, fertilized with sperm in a lab, and placed in your or a gestational carrier’s uterus.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a fertilization treatment that your doctor may propose. ICSI involves injecting a single high-quality sperm straight into each maturing egg.

The odds of becoming pregnant after the implantation range from 30 to 60%. It highly depends on your age when you had frozen your eggs. The older you are when you freeze your eggs, the less likely you will have a healthy pregnancy in the future.

Don’t hesitate any longer. Get in touch with Dr. Hrishikesh Pai, a proficient IVF specialist in India. You can discuss the various IVF treatment options and know more about egg freezing in Mumbai.

Conclusion

Cryopreservation is a realistic alternative if you want to postpone childbearing and ensure that your fertility is preserved long after your biological clock has worn out.

According to research, babies born through the cryopreservation technique do not have a higher rate of birth abnormalities or health issues than other children.

If you are thinking about freezing your eggs, visit Bloom IVF Clinic, one of the best fertility units in India that specializes in the procedure. 

Get your eggs preserved while they are young and at their best health. 

Set up an appointment with Dr. Hrishikesh Pai at the earliest.