Oocyte Cryopreservation, the scientific name for egg freezing, is a technique that allows women to freeze their eggs (oocytes) either by a slow-freeze method or by a flash-freezing process known as vitritication. In order to retrieve eggs for freezing, a patient undergoes the same hormone-injection process as during in-vitro-fertiiization cycle (IVF). The only difference is that after eggs are retrieved, they are frozen for a period of time before they could be thawed, fertilized, and finally transferred to the uterus as embryos.

Egg freezing is usually considered beneficial for women who are delaying their childbearing for medical or personal reasons, meaning saving eggs now for pregnancy chances at a later time. Because fertility is known to decline with age, it is the best to have eggs frozen at an early reproductive age when they are of the best quality possible. For example, eggs frozen at the age of 35 are more usable from the fertility perspective than fresh oocytes produced at 43 years of age.

Embryo Cryopreservation is used most often to store good-quality excess embryos resulting from the preceding IVF treatment cycle. Embryo cryopreservation is also appropriate to use as fertility preservation for women who might want to expand their family later in life or delay their pregnancy for medical reasons. FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer) is an infertility treatment method where previously-frozen embryos are thawed and transferred into the patient’s uterus.

Freezing of Eggs and Embryos at New York Reproductive

Until recently, egg freezing and embryo cryopreservation have been relatively rare as few practices have the experience and capability to offer these services. In 2012, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has officially declared that Egg Freezing is no longer viewed as an “experimental” procedure due to recent advances in egg-freezing techniques.

At New York Reproductive, however, Dr. Karpenko or Dr. Vidali, together with their dedicated team, have both the large experience and the professional expertise to successfully perform these services at our fertility clinic locations in New York City.

We offer an exceptional, quality care in a warm environment and at an affordable cost. To find out more about New York Reproductive’s fertility services, including egg freezing and embryo cryopreservation options available at our New York City fertility clinic, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Karpenko or Dr. Vidali, call (212) 317-8700 or use our online appointment form.