The formation of an embryo — the combination of an egg and a sperm – marks the beginning of life. Several factors, both internal and external to the human body, may result in nonproduction or impair the quality of eggs and sperm produced in humans, which may not result in conception. Fortunately, technological progress has enabled solutions to such difficulties. A few of these mechanisms help in the preservation of eggs, sperm, and embryos for future use. These are Egg Freezing, Sperm Freezing Sperm Banking, and Embryo Freezing. For infertility treatment, book your appointment with the best gynecologist in Dubai.
What exactly are Sperm and Embryo Freezing?
These are methods of preserving sperm and embryos via cryopreservation or vitrification, respectively. Embryo freezing is a common process of the in-vitro fertilization procedure when extra embryos are saved for future use.
Freezing of Sperm and Embryos
Cryopreservation methods have evolved significantly since their discovery in the late 1980s. These include the Slow Freezing Method and Vitrification. These are excellent preservation procedures that assure the avoidance of ice crystals forms owing to intense freezing that commonly destroys the sperm or embryo's internal small structures. Special fluids, such as cryoprotective agents or CPAs, are often used. These serve as "anti-freeze" for the water-based cell. The Slow Freezing Method, as the name implies, involves slowly freezing sperms and embryos over two hours and then storing them in liquid nitrogen at -196 degrees Celsius. Vitrification, on the other hand, is a fast freezing procedure in which the mixture is promptly immersed in liquid nitrogen once the CPAs have been mixed with the sperm/embryo. This causes the mixture to become glassy, avoiding the development of ice crystals. Embryos are frozen for one to six days.
It is also important to note that screening for medical conditions such as HIV, HBV, and HCV is carried out prior to preventing infections. Similarly, pre-assessments of sperm quality are carried out using sperm analysis to measure sperm count, motility, and morphology/shape.
What is the purpose of freezing sperm and embryos and why is it done?
Sperm preservation is often performed in situations of impending vasectomy, low sperm count, poor sperm quality, illnesses such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, or Non-disease, Hodgkin's, and subsequent medical treatments that may affect future sperm production. According to research, men who want to have children beyond the age of 50 are more likely to have children with autism or mental retardation, and they may consider sperm banking during their earlier years. In the instance of embryo preservation, the embryos are preserved so that they may be utilized in future pregnancies rather than being destroyed. In the event that a current IVF or other reproductive therapy fails, it is more cost-effective to utilize the stored embryos rather than restart the procedures. Another reason individuals choose embryo preservation is medical procedures that may diminish their chances of pregnancy. Donor programs form a small percentage of causes of preservation
What are the Risks of Sperm and Embryo Freezing?
The quality of the sperm and embryo, like with Egg Freezing, determines the success of Sperm Freezing and Embryo Freezing, and hence the rate of pregnancy. Younger men's sperm tend to be of higher quality, resulting in higher success rates. Men under the age of 40 with good health and sperm parameters and no history of any life-threatening disorders are reported to be ideal candidates for sperm preservation. Similarly, embryos created with high-quality eggs and sperm are more likely to result in a healthy pregnancy. Children born through such procedures are unlikely to have any health issues or birth abnormalities.
What are the Success Rates of Sperm and Embryo Freezing?
Sperm preservation is done for an average of 10 years, with exceptions for exceptionally extended periods of time of up to 30 years. It can be demonstrated that preserving for such extended durations does not have a negative impact on pregnancy success. The success rate is mostly determined by the physician and the facility where one is being treated. IVF centers with highly qualified and experienced fertility doctors have a track record of high success rates in all types of fertility treatments including egg, sperm, and embryo preservation. For infertility treatment, book your appointment with the Best Indian Gynaecologist in Dubai.
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