What is Egg Vitrification?
I've been hearing a lot about egg freezing and vitrification lately. Would you explain a little bit about that?
Answered By: Andrew Dorfmann, M.S., Director of the GIVF Embryology Laboratory
In the last several years, significant advances have been made in the ability to cryopreserve (freeze) oocytes (eggs). While we have been freezing embryos successfully for more than 20 years, freezing oocytes had proven to be a more difficult technique for embryologists. Over the past several years, however, thanks to the advent of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) and some refinements in freezing techniques, we have been able to successfully freeze and thaw oocytes with rates of success that are similar to the success we achieve freezing embryos. These efforts were pioneered in Japan and in some European countries such as Italy, where laws governing the freezing of embryos have become quite restrictive.
One of the methods that has been used successfully around the world, including right here at the Genetics & IVF Institute, is vitrification. Vitrification is actually an older method for rapidly freezing cells which has been recently revived to great advantage in the IVF laboratory. Most recent data points to vitrification as the preferred method for freezing both oocytes and blastocyst stage embryos. GIVF now has two ongoing pregnancies from oocyte vitrification and we have adopted vitrification for freezing blastocysts.
The question we are often asked is: why freeze oocytes? There are three fundamental reasons: 1) fertility preservation; 2) donor oocyte banking; and 3) certain potential ethical advantages. Fertility preservation may be attempted for one of two reasons, either for a patient with cancer or another disease who wants to preserve oocytes, or in some cases ovarian tissue, prior to receiving treatment, or for younger women who want to freeze and store oocytes for use later in their lives when they are ready to begin their families. Freezing donor oocytes has the potential to make the process of donor egg IVF considerably easier. It will obviate the need to synchronize donor and recipient cycles, and has the potential to make the process much more efficient for everyone involved and for making donor oocyte treatment more available.
A few advanced infertility practices such as GIVF are investigating the possibilities for donor egg banking. In the future, we probably will see oocyte banking become a reality, just like sperm banking. A GIVF donor egg bank will be initiated soon. More information about this new and exciting program is available in this edition of eNews and on our website.
Freezing oocytes rather than embryos may ease decisionmaking for patients concerned about the disposition of "extra" embryos after IVF cycles. While freezing oocytes is still not an appropriate alternative for most couples, it may become a viable option in the future. Just like embryo freezing, ICSI and countless other new techniques before it, oocyte freezing has a bright future and the potential to revolutionize the practice of IVF.
Answered By: Andrew Dorfmann, M.S., Director of the GIVF Embryology Laboratory
In the last several years, significant advances have been made in the ability to cryopreserve (freeze) oocytes (eggs). While we have been freezing embryos successfully for more than 20 years, freezing oocytes had proven to be a more difficult technique for embryologists. Over the past several years, however, thanks to the advent of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) and some refinements in freezing techniques, we have been able to successfully freeze and thaw oocytes with rates of success that are similar to the success we achieve freezing embryos. These efforts were pioneered in Japan and in some European countries such as Italy, where laws governing the freezing of embryos have become quite restrictive.
One of the methods that has been used successfully around the world, including right here at the Genetics & IVF Institute, is vitrification. Vitrification is actually an older method for rapidly freezing cells which has been recently revived to great advantage in the IVF laboratory. Most recent data points to vitrification as the preferred method for freezing both oocytes and blastocyst stage embryos. GIVF now has two ongoing pregnancies from oocyte vitrification and we have adopted vitrification for freezing blastocysts.
The question we are often asked is: why freeze oocytes? There are three fundamental reasons: 1) fertility preservation; 2) donor oocyte banking; and 3) certain potential ethical advantages. Fertility preservation may be attempted for one of two reasons, either for a patient with cancer or another disease who wants to preserve oocytes, or in some cases ovarian tissue, prior to receiving treatment, or for younger women who want to freeze and store oocytes for use later in their lives when they are ready to begin their families. Freezing donor oocytes has the potential to make the process of donor egg IVF considerably easier. It will obviate the need to synchronize donor and recipient cycles, and has the potential to make the process much more efficient for everyone involved and for making donor oocyte treatment more available.
A few advanced infertility practices such as GIVF are investigating the possibilities for donor egg banking. In the future, we probably will see oocyte banking become a reality, just like sperm banking. A GIVF donor egg bank will be initiated soon. More information about this new and exciting program is available in this edition of eNews and on our website.
Freezing oocytes rather than embryos may ease decisionmaking for patients concerned about the disposition of "extra" embryos after IVF cycles. While freezing oocytes is still not an appropriate alternative for most couples, it may become a viable option in the future. Just like embryo freezing, ICSI and countless other new techniques before it, oocyte freezing has a bright future and the potential to revolutionize the practice of IVF.
posted by Kathleen, Contributing Editor at
1:00 PM
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