Fertility Preservation

Fertility preservation refers to procedures that help individuals retain their ability to have biological children in the future. This proactive approach involves collecting and cryopreserving (freezing) eggs, sperm, embryos, or reproductive tissues (ovarian or testicular) for later use.

At Jindal IVF, a leading IVF center in Chandigarh, we offer comprehensive fertility preservation services using advanced cryopreservation techniques.

Why Consider Fertility Preservation?

There are several important reasons why someone might choose fertility preservation:

1. Medical Treatments: Certain medical treatments, particularly chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer, can damage reproductive organs and impair fertility. Other conditions like autoimmune diseases may also require treatments that affect fertility. Preservation before starting such treatments offers the best chance to safeguard future reproductive potential.
2. Upcoming Surgery: Some surgeries, like a hysterectomy (even if ovaries are retained) or surgeries involving the ovaries or testicles, can impact future fertility. Collecting eggs or sperm beforehand may be recommended.
3. Health Conditions: Certain conditions, including endometriosis, fibroids, or genetic conditions, might affect fertility over time or necessitate treatments that impact reproductive health.
4. Delayed Parenthood: Many individuals or couples choose to delay starting a family for personal, professional, or social reasons. Freezing eggs or sperm at a younger age (ideally before age 35 for women) can preserve younger, healthier reproductive cells for future use when natural fertility may have declined. Explore: Which age is best for ivf
5. Gender-Affirming Care: Individuals undergoing gender-affirming treatments that may impact fertility can preserve their eggs or sperm beforehand.

Fertility Preservation Methods

Jindal IVF offers various preservation techniques tailored to individual needs:

For Women / People Designated Female at Birth (DFAB):

• Egg Freezing (Oocyte Cryopreservation): This involves stimulating the ovaries with hormone medications to produce multiple eggs. The mature eggs are then retrieved through a minor procedure and frozen for long-term storage.
• Embryo Freezing (Embryo Cryopreservation): Similar to egg freezing, eggs are retrieved after ovarian stimulation. They are then fertilized with partner or donor sperm in the IVF lab to create embryos. These embryos are frozen and stored for future transfer to the uterus.
• Ovarian Tissue Freezing: This is an option, particularly when there isn't time for ovarian stimulation (e.g., urgent cancer treatment) or for prepubertal girls. A small piece of ovarian tissue containing immature eggs is surgically removed (usually via laparoscopy) and frozen. It can potentially be transplanted back later to restore fertility.
• Ovarian Transposition (Oophoropexy): A surgical procedure, typically for those undergoing pelvic radiation, where the ovaries are temporarily moved higher in the abdomen, away from the radiation field, to minimize damage.
• Radiation Shielding: Using lead shields to protect the ovaries during radiation therapy in specific cases.

For Men / People Designated Male at Birth (DMAB):

• Sperm Freezing (Sperm Cryopreservation): This is the most common method. Semen samples are collected (usually through masturbation) and the sperm are frozen and stored. It's crucial to bank sperm before starting treatments like chemotherapy or pelvic radiation. If ejaculation is difficult due to illness or other reasons, methods like vibratory stimulation or electroejaculation (under anesthesia) can assist collection.
• Testicular Tissue Freezing / Sperm Extraction (TESE/TESA): For men who have no sperm in their ejaculate (azoospermia) or for prepubertal boys who cannot yet produce sperm, a small sample of testicular tissue can be surgically removed. If sperm are present in the tissue, they can be extracted (TESE/TESA) and frozen. The tissue itself can also sometimes be frozen.
• Radiation Shielding: Using lead shields to protect the testicles during radiation therapy.

For Children:

• Childhood cancer treatments or other conditions can affect future fertility. Options before puberty include ovarian or testicular tissue freezing and radiation shielding. After puberty, egg, embryo, or sperm freezing become available options.

The Fertility Preservation Process

While specific steps vary, the general process often involves:

1. Consultation: Discussing your situation, reasons for preservation, options, timeline, and potential outcomes with a fertility specialist at Jindal IVF.
2. Screening & Preparation: Undergoing necessary health screenings and tests. If undergoing ovarian stimulation for egg/embryo freezing, this involves hormone injections for about 10-14 days.
3. Retrieval/Collection: Performing the procedure to collect eggs (transvaginal ultrasound-guided retrieval under sedation), sperm (ejaculation or surgical extraction), or tissue (laparoscopic or other surgical methods).
4. Cryopreservation: Freezing the collected eggs, sperm, embryos, or tissue using specialized laboratory techniques (like vitrification).
5. Storage: Maintaining the frozen samples in secure, long-term storage tanks.
6. Future Use: When ready to pursue pregnancy, the frozen samples are thawed and used in assisted reproductive treatments like Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) or In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), potentially with Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).

Supporting Your Reproductive Health

While cryopreservation is the primary method to preserve fertility against specific threats, maintaining a healthy lifestyle supports overall reproductive wellness:

• Balanced Nutrition: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats provides essential nutrients.
• Healthy Weight: Maintaining a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) is beneficial for hormonal balance.
• Regular Exercise: Moderate physical activity supports overall health.
• Stress Management: Chronic stress can impact hormones; techniques like yoga, meditation, or counseling can help.
• Avoid Toxins: Limiting exposure to smoking, excessive alcohol, illicit drugs, and environmental toxins is crucial.

Note: These lifestyle factors support general fertility but do not prevent fertility decline due to age or medical treatments in the way cryopreservation does.

Success Rates and Risks

• Success: Fertility preservation does not guarantee a future pregnancy, but it significantly increases the chances for many individuals. Success rates depend heavily on factors like the type of procedure, the age at the time of freezing (especially for eggs), the quantity and quality of the preserved samples, and individual health factors. Egg and sperm freezing are well-established techniques with good success rates when used later in IVF/IUI. Tissue freezing and transplantation are less common but evolving options. Your specialist at Jindal IVF can discuss realistic expectations based on your specific circumstances.
• Risks: Procedures carry some risks, though generally low. Ovarian stimulation can cause temporary side effects like bloating or discomfort, and rarely, Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS). Egg retrieval carries small risks of bleeding or infection. Surgical procedures (tissue removal/transposition) have standard surgical risks (infection, bleeding, anesthesia complications). IVF itself carries risks like multiple births or ectopic pregnancy.

Also Explore: 

• What Is the Success Rate of IVF On the First Try?
• Which IVF Clinic Has the Highest Success Rate?
• Does IVF Have a 100% Success Rate?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: How long does the egg freezing process take before treatments like chemo?

A: The process, including ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval, typically takes about 2-4 weeks. This timeframe is often manageable without significantly delaying necessary medical treatments like chemotherapy.

Q2: Is the egg retrieval procedure painful?

A: The egg retrieval is performed under sedation, so you should not feel pain during the procedure itself. Some women experience bloating or mild discomfort during the stimulation phase leading up to retrieval and for a few days afterward.

Q3: Can I preserve eggs before a hysterectomy?

A: Yes. Even if the ovaries are not removed during a hysterectomy, the surgery or resulting changes in blood supply can sometimes affect ovarian function. Discussing egg freezing with your doctor before the surgery is recommended if future biological children are desired.

Q4: How long can eggs, sperm, or embryos remain frozen?

A: Cryopreserved samples can be stored indefinitely. Successful pregnancies have resulted from samples frozen for many years.

Q5: What happens to the frozen samples when I'm ready to use them?

A: Your fertility team will thaw the samples. Eggs will be fertilized (usually via ICSI) to create embryos. Sperm will be used for IUI or IVF/ICSI. Embryos will be transferred to the uterus (yours or a surrogate's) to attempt pregnancy.

When Should I Consider Fertility Preservation?

It's best to discuss fertility preservation as early as possible. Optimal timing includes:

• Before starting cancer treatment or other medical therapies known to affect fertility.
• Before undergoing gender-affirming treatments.
• Ideally by age 35 for women considering elective egg freezing due to delaying parenthood. Explore: ivf success rates by age, IVF success rate under 35
• Soon after diagnosis of conditions that may impact future fertility.

Even if you have already undergone some treatments, discuss potential remaining options with a fertility specialist.

Take Control of Your Future Fertility

Fertility preservation offers valuable options for individuals facing medical treatments, planning for gender affirmation, or choosing to delay parenthood. Modern techniques allow you to safeguard your potential to have biological children in the future.

The expert team at Jindal IVF in Chandigarh is here to provide compassionate guidance and state-of-the-art fertility preservation services. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and explore the options that best suit your needs and circumstances.