Fertility preservation is an area of immense interest in today’s society. The most effective and established means of fertility preservation is the cryopreservation of gametes (sperm and oocytes) and embryos. Cryopreservation is the process of storage of viable biological samples in a frozen state to preserve the cells and tissues that are structurally intact over an extended period.
Cryopreservation: What is it?
Cryopreservation is the process of preserving living cells, tissues, and other biological samples by placing them in a deep freezer at extremely low temperatures. The sample is typically stored at 196°C or below.
All of a cell’s basic processes halt at such low temperatures, and the cell eventually perishes. Cells may withstand freezing and thawing with the aid of cryopreservation.
Recent advancements in the techniques of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and isolation and preservation of germ cells and their in‐vitro and in‐vivo maturation have led to a renewed interest in research related to gonadal tissue cryopreservation. In humans, testicular tissue cryopreservation offers hope for the preservation of fertility in pre‐pubertal boys with cancer before exposure to gonadotoxic treatments or after surgical castration. Similarly, cryopreservation of ovarian tissue is the only option to preserve fertility in pre‐pubertal girls and women in whom gonadal function is threatened by premature menopause, cancer therapy, or pathological conditions
Process of cryopreservation
This procedure involves the preservation of biological materials such as cells, oocytes, spermatozoa, tissues, ovarian tissues, pre-implantation embryos, organs, etc. at extremely low temperatures without compromising the viability of the cells.
The earlier slow‐cooling process has been replaced by simpler and more efficient cryopreservation approaches—such as vitrification. Further to these technological advances in cryobiology, various strategies have been developed that allow long‐term storage of gametes and embryos.
Embryo cryopreservation:
Hormones are utilized in the treatment of infertility to promote the production of eggs. After that, the eggs are removed and fertilized in a lab. It is possible to produce more embryos and implant them in the woman’s uterus. These embryos can be cryopreserved and utilized in the future. By doing this, the woman can have a second embryo transfer in the future without having to pay for a further IVF session.
Cryopreservation of Oocytes:
The eggs freeze quickly during the vitrification process, which leaves less time for ice crystal formation. With a high concentration of anti-freeze chemicals, new cryoprotectants are applied.
An anti-freeze-like cryoprotectant bath with a low concentration is first used to soak the oocyte. To assist remove some water from the egg, some sucrose is added. The egg is next moved to a high-concentration anti-freeze cryoprotectant for a very brief period before being moved right away to liquid nitrogen. when the egg is defrosted and utilized to transplant the lady with the egg.
Sperm cryopreservation:
A solution is added to the semen sample to preserve it from freezing and thawing. After that, the sample is transferred to polypropylene vials and maintained in liquid nitrogen to freeze.
The possibilities of conception in the future are secured by this process. Also possible is the deposit, freezing, and short-term storage of the sperm in cryobanks. Later, this sperm may be used for certain infertility therapies.
Cryopreservation advantages:
The process of cryopreservation has various advantages. These consist of:
- Fertility procedures.
- Space and labour requirements are minimal.
- Protection against genetic contamination.
- Protects the genetic integrity of valuable stains.
- Provides protection for endangered species’ genetic material.
- Samples of living things can be kept for a longer time.
- Shields the samples from microbial contamination and illness.
- Cryopreserving gametes, embryos, and other biological
materials stop the genetic drift.
The experts at Aaradhya Fertility Centre specialize in the latest fertility preservation techniques, including egg, sperm and ovarian tissue freezing. Call us at 8886592229 or talk to us at https://bit.ly/AaradhyaChat
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