Egg freezing: a technique for preserving fertility rising
Written by:In recent decades there has been an increase in women wishing to preserve their fertility by freezing eggs. The pace of life is one of the causes of the delay in the age to be a mother. Thanks to recent advances many women can enjoy when they wish, at this stage of life different.
Egg freezing, what is it ?
Egg freezing is a procedure that preserves oocytes a woman of childbearing age who for various reasons have to postpone motherhood; good for health problems such as breast cancer, or for social reasons, such as professional stability. His practice in Assisted Reproduction is recommended when the age of the woman is in the range with the highest probability of success. It is recommended that the preservation prior to 37 years.
What is oocyte vitrification?
It is the technique used to keep frozen oocytes. This involves rapid freezing after a previous dehydration of the cell so that no water crystals are formed inside the same and that damage cellular organelles. Oocytes becomes a glass-like substance, hence its name "vitrification". At the time of devitrification by a curve very rapid increase in temperature in the first step has to rehydrate.
Among the benefits over other methods it is that this technique is getting a higher rate of recovery. Although it is noteworthy that the pregnancy rate will always be conditional on maternal age, which is why it is recommended not delay in making a decision.
What is the purpose in both cases?
In both cases the aim is to keep the eggs at low temperature for several years and to preserve the pregnancy rate of the age were frozen. It is well known that the pregnancy rate decreases over the years, with maximum of 20 to 30 and down significantly from the 35.
Are they effective?
Yes, although the level of effectiveness will always be a function of age. The rate of aneuploidy (changes in the number of chromosomes that can lead to genetic diseases) oocytes increased significantly from 35 years and from 40 is very important.
Aneuploidy may be a lack or an excess of chromosomes. In humans it is usual to have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs). If the number is higher it will cause abortion in pregnant women or trisomies like Down syndrome. If, however, the absence of one or more chromosomes is called monosomy and is, for example, responsible for diseases such as Turner syndrome occurs.
Risks and contraindications of freezing and vitrification of oocytes
In principle there is no contraindication. In patients with neoplastic diseases are indicated prior to chemotherapy treatment form, since to do so later oocytes could see damaged and reduced quality.
Edited by Roser Berner Ubasos.
