CYCROSERVATION OF EGGS

23 October 20204′ read1 sections

Egg freezing is a new opportunity for women to extend their fertile years

NEW TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN CRYOPRESERVATION OFFER A CHOICE, ESPECIALLY TO THE MANY YOUNG WOMEN WHO PLAN TO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE FUTURE.

Time passes quickly in your twenties and thirties. The priorities are education, career and relationships, but the biological clock fades into the background . And there is an option for preserving fertility - known as egg cryopreservation.

The egg is vital to women's fertility. A newborn baby girl is born with one million immature eggs in her ovaries, and they make up a unique reserve. Throughout a woman's life, the majority of her eggs are inevitably lost through a natural process of egg development and degeneration called apoptosis. By the time she reaches puberty and has her first period, about 400,000 eggs remain. About 300–500 of her eggs are ovulated during her fertile years. Of these, only a few are fertilised and lead to pregnancy and birth. A woman's fertility ends several years before the onset of actual menopause, which occurs at an average age of 50-51. This means that even a regular menstrual cycle is no guarantee of fertility as a woman gets older.

Human reproduction is far from equal when women are compared with men. Men's testicles produce new sperm almost throughout their lives, but women have a limited window in which they are fertile. On average, a woman's fertility starts to decline after the age of 30, and this decline becomes faster after the age of 35. Fertility falls with age as the number of eggs decreases and their quality deteriorates. At the same time, the risk of miscarriage increases, as does the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in the baby, such as Down syndrome.

Egg freezing is a way of pressing pause on your fertility while you arrange your life to bring a baby into the world . Especially when statistics show that fertility issues are increasingly common in today's population.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING TREATMENT

FIND OUT THE CURRENT STATE OF YOUR EGGS

The first step for women considering egg freezing is to find out how many eggs their ovaries are producing now . An ovarian reserve test uses blood tests and ultrasound to determine how many eggs you have and how much effort your ovaries make to produce mature eggs when you ovulate. This picture of your ovarian function will be an important starting point for everything that follows. Based on the results of the ovarian reserve test and your medical history, Dr. Alexandros Traianos will be able to estimate the ideal number of eggs to freeze.

Egg freezing to preserve fertility - who is it for?

Freezing eggs for medical reasons to preserve fertility has been a routine procedure for years. For example, before starting cancer treatments that may damage the ovaries. There are other medical reasons too, such as severe endometriosis or certain autoimmune diseases, whose treatment may reduce the ovarian reserve prematurely. There may also be reasons other than medical ones for preserving fertility. By freezing her eggs before the age of 35, a woman can give herself extra time, for example to find a suitable partner, and extend her chances of having her own child. Even women in a relationship may have various reasons to consider egg cryopreservation. Note, however, that the purpose of egg cryopreservation is not to help women who are close to menopause, but to help those who want more time to start a family.

To find out more about the fertility preservation programme, send us a message or call us on (+30) 2310 277 032

*The content of this blog is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have about medical conditions.

TAGSegg freezingIVF centers in Thessalonikicryopreservationoocyte cryopreservationassisted reproduction

ABOUT THE DOCTOR

Dr. Alexandros Traianos

Gynecologist · Specialist in Reproductive Medicine and Fetal Medicine

He supports scientific excellence in clinical practice and recognizes the possibilities offered by modern reproductive methods to couples who wish to have a child of their own.

His profile

The content of this article is for information only and does not replace a medical examination and advice.

All articles

Frequently Asked Questions most frequently.

Infertility is defined as the failure to achieve conception after one year (or 6 months in the case of a woman over the age of 35) of normal, regular sexual intercourse. In other words, when a year has passed without the woman becoming pregnant, the couple should consult their treating physician, so that the cause preventing pregnancy can be identified and subsequently addressed. However, we should all be aware and not forget that age is the most critical factor for female fertility, and that an individualized approach to each couple is the "golden key" that solves the problem.

Of course not. In approximately one third of cases, infertility is due to the woman (female factor), while in another third of cases it is due to the man (male factor). In the remaining third, it is due to both partners (both the man and the woman) or even to unknown factors.

• alcohol • narcotic substances • environmental toxins, including pesticides and lead • smoking • health problems • medications • radiotherapy and chemotherapy • age

In general, specialists agree that the fact that a couple has already had a child may be considered evidence that, at least initially, there is no infertility problem. It is like a small test that has been carried out and shows that they “succeeded” at least once. On the other hand, however, we should be aware that circumstances may have changed in the meantime and that a problem may have developed (e.g., the man may have had an inflammation affecting the quality of his sperm, or something may have occurred that affects female fertility: an inflammation, gynecological surgery, an abortion, etc.). In any case, therefore, if a reasonable period of time (one year) passes and a couple is unable to achieve a pregnancy, then, with the help of their doctor, they should investigate whether a problem causing infertility has arisen.

Success rates vary at each IVF center. Very important factors also include the woman’s age, her hormone levels, and, of course, her husband’s sperm. In general, rates are around 45% or slightly higher for women up to 35 years of age.

The number of treatment cycles a woman may undergo is not fixed. It is certain that in our country there are highly qualified obstetrician-gynecologists and well-organized infertility treatment centers that provide excellent medical services in this field. Provided that the appropriate indications are present (e.g., ovaries that respond to stimulation treatment, a good-quality endometrium, etc.), the success rate—particularly with the use of newer techniques and biotechnological medicines, which demonstrate increased bioactivity compared with conventional urine-derived medicines—reaches a cumulative rate of approximately 65%–70% after 4 treatment cycles.

Egg retrieval takes 10–15 minutes, is not painful, is performed under sedation, and after the procedure is completed you can return to your activities.

The association between IVF medications and the risk of developing cancer is the greatest concern for women participating in these programs. However, numerous literature references gathered from reliable scientific studies and published in reputable medical journals worldwide are reassuring and do not confirm this concern.

At Dr. Traianos' Reproductive Medicine Center, we offer egg and sperm cryopreservation services for individuals who have a personal or medical reason and require this service. We use the most advanced vitrification technique for the freezing of sperm and eggs.

Egg freezing is a new opportunity for women to extend their fertile years

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING TREATMENT

Egg freezing to preserve fertility - who is it for?

The first step is a discussion.

Frequently Asked Questions most frequently.

When is a couple considered infertile?

Is infertility only a female problem?

What increases the risk of male infertility?

I already have one child, but I am now having difficulty becoming pregnant again. Could a problem have arisen with me or with my partner?

What is the success rate of in vitro fertilization?

How many times can a woman undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF)?

Is egg retrieval painful?

Can IVF medications cause cancer?

Can I freeze my eggs or my sperm?