Fertility preservation refers to a series of procedures that include the collection and cryopreservation of the woman's oocytes, when there is a future risk of reduction in the efficiency of the reproductive system or, in some cases, a real loss of fertility.
To date, oocyte cryopreservation is recognized by international scientific societies as the method of choice for preserving the fertility of post-pubertal women. The effectiveness of oocyte cryopreservation depends on age, ovarian reserve (number of oocytes available) and the indication for treatment.
At CMR, "Social Freezing" can be performed, a fertility preservation treatment related to professional, economic conditions or lack of a partner that lead to the postponement of pregnancy.
To date, there are various drugs to induce ovulation, increasingly advanced and with greater clinical effectiveness, this allows you to personalize the therapy as much as possible to achieve the desired result.
Ultrasound monitoring will be associated to evaluate follicular growth starting from the 2nd-3rd day of the cycle.
The follicles that at the last monitoring were found to be sufficiently mature (diameter ›16 mm) are aspirated and the follicular fluid obtained is immediately checked under the microscope for the search for oocytes.
This occurs with a simple needle aspiration technique under sedation, in an absolutely painless way transvaginally under ultrasound controll.
The oocytes collected that are mature will be subjected to vitrification, a procedure performed in the laboratory which allows their characteristics to be preserved over time.
Vitrification involves the use of cryoprotective substances and the subsequent immersion of the oocytes in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -196°C; these very low temperatures keep the biological properties intact until thawing.
This procedure is far superior to older freezing processes, as it prevents the formation of ice crystals that could damage cells.
To date, oocyte cryopreservation is recognized by international scientific societies as the method of choice for preserving the fertility of post-pubertal women (The Practice Committees of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, 2013).