egg freezing - newspaper - Dr. Soumya Rathi

Egg Freezing - Newspaper

FERTILITY PRESERVATION & SOCIAL EGG FREEZING CAN REVOLUTIONARIZE THE INFERTILITY PLAGUE IN MILLENIALS

Dr. Soumya Rathi

According to the WHO -2023 update- Infertility prevalence estimates 1990-2021 is Around 17.5% of the adult population (roughly 1 in 6 ) worldwide experience infertility in their lifetime.

Both female and male reproductive dysfunction is equally responsible for infertility of the younger generation.

In today’s world, late marriages, smoking, alcohol, other intoxicants, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, sexually transmitted infections, sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, repeated abortions, multiple sexual partners, PCOS are significant factor in infertility.

FERTILITY PRESERVATION

Fertility preservation is the process of saving or protecting eggs, sperm, or reproductive tissue so that a person can use them to have biological children in the future. It is used for patients with certain diseases, disorders and life events that affect fertility like autoimmune disorders, patients undergoing cancer treatment, genetic diseases which affect fertility, endometriosis, etc

SOCIAL FREEZING

Social egg freezing is a type of fertility preservation typically offered to women who want to preserve the option of having healthy, genetically related children at a later date by choice.

It offers two important benefits to women who anticipate becoming pregnant at an advanced age-

It provides them with the possibility of becoming a genetic parent using their frozen–thawed eggs
it reduces the risk of having children with chromosomal abnormalities associated with ovarian aneuploidy

Plan your fertility

Many women delay family-planning while seeking a life partner and many others due to education, career, social economic considerations. Initially Embryo cryopreservation was the only option offered to Patients. This option, while successful, has its own disadvantages one of them being the requirement of a sperm source to create a embryos and this option is obviously closed for single women. With the advent of efficient and reliable oocyte freezing programs, it allowed women to proactively preserve their gamete until they are ready to have a family.

Is egg freezing for me?

If you Are between 25 and 35 years of age, not in a stable relationship, and you wish to increase your chances of conception with your own eggs in the future and also reduce the chances of genetic disorders due to advancing maternal age, egg freezing is a suitable option for you. This is also good option for young women diagnosed with cancer, women with family history of early menopause and those with chronic diseases with medications that may have determined effect on oocyte function. (Fertility preservation)

What is the process?

Ovarian stimulation will begin on day 2 or 3 of your period and you may be ready for egg retrieval after 11-13 days. You will have to come to the clinic for follicular monitoring and blood test every 4 to 5 days. egg retrieval is minimally invasive procedure that takes place under anaesthesia. It’s completely painless. Depending on your response to the medication more than one egg retrieval may be needed to provide a realistic chance of conception in the future. After the retrieval , your eggs will be preserved and stored until you are ready to use them.

How are the eggs stored?

Following the egg retrieval procedure, the eggs are immediately transferred to the laboratory for an advance cryopreservation process called vitrification. The eggs are then stored in special holding tanks. Cryopreservation facility include stringent quality, controls, enhance security, for told, and storage, control, access, and constant monitoring.

How long can the eggs remain frozen?

Theoretically, eggs or embryos may be frozen indefinitely, as no biological activity takes place during cryopreservation.

How to use frozen eggs to achieve Pregnancy?

Once you are ready to start a family with your partner/husband, you will be prepared for the recipient cycle with medications to prepare your uterine lining.

Your eggs will be thawed and fertilized using ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection).