Freezing

Freezing in Nepal

Preserving fertility is an important consideration for individuals who may face factors that could impact their ability to conceive in the future, this may include patients receiving cancer treatments. There are several options available for preserving fertility:

1. Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation): This involves stimulating the ovaries with hormones to produce multiple eggs, which are then retrieved and frozen for later use. Egg freezing is typically recommended for women who want to preserve their fertility but are not yet ready to have children or are facing circumstances that may affect their fertility, such as medical treatments like chemotherapy or who want to delay being a mother for personal, educational, or career goals. It's essential for women considering egg freezing to consult with a reproductive endocrinologist or fertility specialist to discuss their individual circumstances, risks, success rates, and costs associated with the procedure. 
    
2. Embryo freezing (embryo cryopreservation): In vitro fertilization (IVF) can also be used to create embryos, which are then frozen and stored for future use. Embryo freezing is one of the important steps in IVF. This option is often chosen by couples undergoing IVF who have surplus embryos that are not transferred during their initial treatment cycle. Embryo freezing can also be an option for individuals who are not in a relationship but want to preserve their fertility. Once the embryo is developed via IVF treatment in laboratory, they are cryopreserved (frozen) using a process called vitrification. Vitrification involves rapidly cooling the embryos to very low temperatures to prevent ice crystal formation, which could damage the delicate structure of the embryos. The frozen embryos are then stored in tanks of liquid nitrogen until they are ready to be used. Embryo freezing offers several advantages, including the ability to preserve multiple embryos from a single IVF cycle, higher survival rates compared to egg freezing, and potentially higher success rates when used in future IVF cycles. It's commonly used in cases where excess embryos are created during IVF treatment, or when patients want to preserve embryos for future use due to medical reasons, age-related fertility decline, or personal circumstances. Patients considering embryo freezing should consult with their fertility specialist to discuss their individual circumstances, risks, success rates, and costs associated with the procedure. 
    
3. Sperm freezing (sperm cryopreservation): Men can preserve their fertility by freezing their sperm, which can be used for artificial insemination or IVF at a later time. Sperm freezing is often recommended for men who are facing medical treatments that may affect their fertility, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or for those who have concerns about their fertility due to age or other factors. In this process, the semen sample is processed to remove seminal fluid and other components, leaving behind concentrated sperm. The sperm are then mixed with a cryoprotectant solution to help protect them during freezing and thawing. The sample is divided into small vials or straws, which are gradually cooled to very low temperatures using a controlled-rate freezing process. Once the sperm are frozen, the vials or straws are transferred to storage tanks filled with liquid nitrogen, where they can be stored for an extended period, often indefinitely. Sperm freezing offers individuals the opportunity to preserve their fertility and retain the option of having biological children in the future, even in the face of potential fertility challenges or medical treatments that may impact fertility. It's essential for individuals considering sperm freezing to consult with a fertility specialist or reproductive endocrinologist to discuss their options, the sperm freezing process, and any associated risks or considerations. 
    
4. Ovarian tissue freezing (ovarian tissue cryopreservation): In this procedure, a small piece of ovarian tissue containing immature eggs is removed and frozen for later use. This option is still considered experimental and is recommended for women who are undergoing treatments that may damage their ovaries. For example, chemotherapy and radiation. It may also be recommended for women who are at risk of premature ovarian failure due to genetic conditions or other factors. While ovarian tissue freezing holds promise as a fertility preservation option, there are still some challenges and uncertainties associated with the procedure, including the risk of damage to the tissue during retrieval, storage, and transplantation, as well as the potential for long-term health risks to mothers. Individuals considering ovarian tissue freezing are strictly advised to discuss the potential risks, benefits, and limitations with a fertility specialist or reproductive endocrinologist before making a decision.