In recent years, in vitro fertilization has developed very rapidly. This procedure is no longer considered something incredible and inaccessible to ordinary people. IVF is carried out all over the world. There are specialized laboratories and clinics in every major city. Every year, new, improved approaches to fertilization are developed. Thanks to the development of this method, many infertile couples were able to become parents. Often, when collecting information about IVF, women are faced with such a concept as oocyte vitrification. This term refers to a relatively new procedure that improves egg quality.
The concept of "vitrification of oocytes" - what is it?
To understand how the vitrification process works, it is necessary to have an understanding of in vitro fertilization. This procedure involves the collection of female germ cells (oocytes) from the ovary. Then they are cleansed and fertilized with partner or donor sperm (if the husband cannot have children). After that, the zygote that began to divideplaced in the uterine cavity. Oocyte vitrification is a procedure similar to egg cryopreservation. However, it is more advanced. Vitrification refers to the freezing of immature germ cells. As a result, oocytes can be stored for a long time. Despite the "frozen" state, vitrified cells remain viable. This procedure is considered a huge breakthrough in medicine, because thanks to it, women have the opportunity to have a baby even in the absence of reproductive organs.
What is the purpose of oocyte vitrification?
In European countries, such concepts as cryopreservation, vitrification of embryos and oocytes have been known for a long time. This can be judged by Western films dedicated to medicine. In the countries of the post-Soviet space, doctors are also familiar with these terms for several decades. However, these procedures have only recently become available to patients. In most cases, oocyte vitrification is performed for in vitro fertilization. When freezing immature cells in this way, a woman has a greater chance of successful IVF. The first batch of oocytes isolated from the ovary may not engraft. In this case, repeated sampling of the material is not required, since there are already vitrified cells. In addition, there are cases when an infertile couple asks for the preservation of oocytes for a long time. Often this is required for various pathological conditions in which a woman cannot have children. Also with a similar requestpatients who are preparing for an operation to remove the reproductive organs are contacting.
For what pathologies is egg vitrification recommended?
Vitrification of oocytes and embryos is a paid procedure available to everyone. There are no special indications for it, however, it is necessary only in specific cases. This does not mean that some women cannot afford to have their cells vitrified. Nevertheless, in the absence of reasons for freezing oocytes in this way, cryopreservation is recommended for patients. Most often, vitrification is carried out under the following conditions:
- Preparing for an oophorectomy. This operation is performed for ovarian cancer and suspicion of its development. This reason is not very common, since in most cases, with oncogynecological pathologies, the uterus is also removed.
- Inability to obtain spermatozoa on the day of oocyte retrieval. For this reason, cells need to be frozen until fertilization material is available.
- Oncological diseases of any localization. Regardless of where exactly the cancer is located, radiation therapy and treatment with chemical (cytostatic) drugs are required. With each of these methods of exposure, pregnancy is undesirable. After all, such methods of treatment destroy not only cancer cells, but also he althy cells, including oocytes.
- Women's desire to have children in a long-term period, for example, after menopause. In such cases, cryopreservation is rarelyproductive, since eggs with this method of freezing are not viable for long. Therefore, doctors offer an alternative method - vitrification of oocytes.
- Re-conducting IVF, if the first time the eggs did not take root. In this case, they offer vitrification so as not to take the material three times.
Vitrified donor oocytes - what is it?
In some cases, an infertile couple is unable to conceive a child even with the help of in vitro fertilization. We are talking about women with dysfunction of the gonads. For this purpose, banks of donor oocytes have been developed. Unfortunately, they are not available in all countries. All immature germ cells are in a vitrified state, so they can be stored. Indications for IVF using donor oocytes are:
- Genetically determined pathology - ovarian wasting syndrome.
- Absence of oocytes due to the age characteristics of the reproductive system (from 40 years and older).
- Inability to stimulate ovulation due to ovarian surgery, chemotherapy exposure.
- Risk of having a baby with a genetic disorder.
- Repeated IVF with no results due to "poor quality" of own eggs.
Who can become a vitrified oocyte donor: requirements
Family planning is a very serious decision, especially for thosecases when a couple is forced to use donor cells. Before receiving oocytes and subjecting them to vitrification, doctors conduct many examinations of both the woman herself and the material provided. One of the conditions set in the frozen egg bank is anonymity. That is, future parents should not know about the donor, and vice versa. Requirements for women who choose to vitrify their oocytes:
- Age: 20-35 years old.
- Absence of somatic and genetic diseases.
- Mild phenotype.
- Donor has at least one child of his own.
- Confidentiality Agreement.
Vitrification technique
Before freezing female germ cells, ovulation is stimulated. This is necessary so that there are several oocytes, and not one. After all, normally during ovulation, maturation and release of only 1 egg from the follicle occurs. Stimulation is carried out medically. Next, an ultrasound of the pelvic organs is performed. If it turns out that ovulation has taken place and there are enough oocytes in the ovary, then the IVF procedure is continued. Cell sampling is carried out under anesthesia. In order for the puncture needle to hit exactly where the oocytes are located, the entire procedure is performed under ultrasound guidance. After taking the material, they proceed to the next stage - the preservation of immature eggs. Vitrification of oocytes in the natural cycle is performed using the rapid freezing method. This is the main feature of this preservation method.
Benefits of egg vitrification
Given that the process of vitrication began to gradually replace other methods of preserving eggs and embryos, it is more preferable not only according to doctors, but also for patients. This method has the following advantages:
- Possibility to delay pregnancy. Due to the fact that oocytes and embryos are frozen for a long time (depending on the decision of the woman).
- Ability to conduct a second IVF procedure without taking the material a second (or more) time.
- Ability to conceive after surgery on the gonads, radiation and chemotherapy.
What is the difference between vitrification and cryopreservation of eggs?
As you know, the processes of cryopreservation and vitrification of eggs are very similar. Both methods are designed to freeze oocytes and embryos in order to preserve their viability. However, there are some differences. Often during cryopreservation, immature eggs are damaged. This is due to the fact that such a method involves slow freezing of the material. As a result, the liquid cytoplasm turns into ice crystals. They are the ones that damage the cell wall. A different method from cryopreservation is the vitrification of oocytes. The percentage of defrosting during its implementation is much lower, since the cooling of the eggs occurs almost instantly. That is, the main difference from cryopreservation is considered to be new technologies that allow long-term preservation of oocytes in a viable state. Postponeconception for a long time is possible only by vitrification. Cryopreservation does not provide such lasting results.
How is IVF performed after oocyte vitrification?
Oocyte vitrification is not carried out everywhere. Freezing germ cells and embryos for a long time is done only in highly specialized laboratories. Almost every clinic with this equipment has a bank of donor vitrified oocytes. After a woman has made a decision about the desire to conceive a child, the cells are thawed. Then, using the ICSI method, fertilization is performed. The resulting embryo is cultured (3-5 days) and implanted into the prepared endometrium. The remaining fertilized cells can be vitrified again. In case of an unsuccessful attempt at implantation, the IVF procedure is repeated.
Oocyte vitrification: doctors' reviews
Currently, vitrification and storage of oocytes and embryos is performed in all major cities with developed medicine. After this method has been tried and proven, doctors respond positively to it, evaluating the advantages over other (early) egg storage procedures. Many women can afford to freeze their own oocytes. The cost of the procedure is about 12 thousand rubles. This is the price for vitrification. The cost of storing frozen cells is 1,000 rubles per month.
