Women can preserve their fertility through a technique that ensures good oocyte survival rates for future use – vitrification. By this method, the harvested oocytes are cooled rapidly to a temperature of -196 ° C, which prevents the formation of ice crystals, responsible for damaging the cell after thawing.
In order to apply this technique, women must undergo ovarian stimulation and follicular puncture. This may be a fertility-preserving option for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments.
Ovocyte vitrification can also be used in women who undergo stimulation to obtain a high number of good-quality oocytes, using part of the IVF or ICSI technique and cryopreserving the remaining oocytes. This technique can also be used by healthy women who, for whatever reason, wish to delay maternity.
Procedure stages:
Medical Appointment
Assessment of the patient condition and establishment for medical treatment.
Stimulation
Administration of drugs for ovarian stimulation and ultrasound control 2/3 times, to measure the number and size of the follicles.
When the follicles reach the desired size, the procedure is scheduled and an hCG injection is required for induction of oocyte maturation about 36 hours earlier.
Follicular puncture
The procedure, with a maximum duration of approximately 15 minutes, consists of the collection of the matured oocytes, being performed in an operating room, under sedation, in order to minimize discomfort for the patient.
Oocytes Selection
After collection of the oocytes these are selected according to their potential to generate an embryo.
Vitrification of Ovocytes
Vitrification of Ovocytes over a period of 5 years.
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