|
|
|
|
|
|
We have been successfully freezing and storing eggs since 1999 and we have had numerous babies born from frozen eggs.
Indications for the retrieval and cryopreservation of eggs mainly apply to three groups. These are: women undergoing IVF procedures; women with cancer who are soon to receive chemotherapy or radiation which will permanently harm their ovaries and eggs; and women of younger reproductive age who, for whatever reason, will delay attempts at pregnancy until they are at an advanced reproductive age.
When many eggs are obtained at retrieval during an IVF cycle, most centers are now fertilizing all of the eggs obtained at retrieval. Then, two or three embryos are transferred into the uterus three to five days later and the remaining embryos are frozen for future use. A theological/moral problem may then arise if all of the frozen embryos are not eventually thawed and transferred. It is estimated that there are approximately 100,000 to 200,000 frozen embryos in the United States alone and most of them will eventually be destroyed! At Reproductive Endocrinology Associates, we believe that life begins at conception and that the destruction of human embryos is not acceptable. However, if only the eggs are frozen, these may be discarded at any time in the future if they are no longer wanted.
If a woman is to be treated for cancer by chemotherapy or radiation and the ovaries will be permanently damaged with this treatment, we can offer hope. In less than thirty days, eggs can be stimulated to develop to maturity in the ovary and then egg retrieval and cryopreservation can be done prior to initiating cancer therapy. As far as we know, there is no limit to the length of time eggs can be frozen and then successfully fertilized in vitro.
Many women would like to become pregnant but at the present time their “life situation” does not allow for pregnancy. These situations may include not being married, job situations, or educational situations. Again, in less than thirty days, eggs can be stimulated to develop to maturity in the ovary and the egg retrieval and cryopreservation can be performed. These eggs do not “age” while in frozen storage and, therefore, in theory, the risk of Down Syndrome and other genetic abnormalities should remain at the level of the patients’ age at the time of egg retrieval and not at the patient’s age when the eggs are fertilized. We do not cryopreserve embryos here at REA.
|
|
|
|
|