Embryo Vitrification

When an IVF process begins, the woman is given medication to stimulate her ovaries for producing mature eggs. These eggs turn into embryos once they get fertilized; some of them are chosen to be frozen for later use. This is done to overcome various problems such as infertility after a complex medical treatment, the desire to have a child at a later age, and some other underlying male/female factors infertility.

Embryo vitrification is also a freezing process but more advanced. The fast freezing eliminates the chances of embryo damage in embryo freezing. This damage occurs because of the ice particles that form due to the slow freezing of the embryos.

Vitrification is a rapid freezing process of the embryos. This rapid freezing restricts the water molecules present in the embryo from forming ice crystals. Rather it solidifies them into glass-like substances instantly.

When ice particles form, it damages the embryos, leading to a failed IVF process. The fast freezing turns the liquid inside the embryos into a glass-like structure which is more likely to survive the thawing process, ultimately increasing the success rate of the IVF process.

• To help minimize the number of ice crystals : - Through this process, the formation of ice crystals can be eliminated, increasing the embryos’ survival rate in the thawing process.
• Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome : - When there is an increased chance of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome, the doctors may suggest Embryo freezing which will be thawed at a suitable time.
• Delayed Pregnancy : - When a woman wants to delay her pregnancy, she can choose to freeze her eggs or embryos so that she can conceive later.
• Medical conditions : - Some health treatments might affect fertility; in such cases, women may choose to freeze their eggs or embryos for later pregnancy.
• Freeze embryos IVF : - Women can also freeze their embryos during the first IVF cycle so that if the first one fails, the frozen ones can be used in the next.

• Ovulation Induction : - The first step is Ovulation Induction; in this step, medications are given to help your body produce mature eggs that can be used for fertilization.
• Egg Retrieval : - In this step, the mature eggs are taken out of the female body. Medicines are given to help you relax, after which your doctor would use ultrasound to examine the body. Then a thin and hollow tube with a needle on top, attached to a suction device, is inserted into the ovary & follicles to pull out eggs.
• Insemination : - In this procedure, the eggs and the sperm cells are put together in a container to be fertilized. (embryos)
• Vitrification : - The embryos are placed in a special anti-freezing substance containing sucrose. It draws water out of the reproductive materials. Then they are placed in the high concentration of the solution for less than a minute. This solution instantly freezes the materials, eliminating the formation of ice crystals.

• Conceive whenever you want :- As previously said, women can choose to conceive whenever they want through this process.
• Medical issues :- women who have a severe medical condition and going through tough treatment can freeze their eggs prior to the treatment.
• Increased success rate :- The instant freezing of the embryos makes them more tolerable for the thawing process, increasing the pregnancy rate.

This process does not have any significant side effects; it is a procedure done on the embryos outside the body.