Egg freezing shows promise as fertility technique

	Tweet

Deep-freezing embryos has been routine for some time, to give infertile couples reproduction choices in various situations, but freezing unfertilized eggs has proven difficult.

Now, new research by an Italian team suggests that egg preservation in cold storage may in fact become be a feasible alternative to embryo storage. Still, improvements are needed, as the majority of eggs do not survive the freezing process.

The findings, which appear in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility, are based on a study of 68 couples being treated for infertility. Eggs were retrieved from the woman and frozen, either because the couple did not want “spare” embryos to be created, or because sperm was not available for fertilization at the time of retrieval.

A total of 86 thawing cycles were performed involving 737 stored eggs. Only 37 percent of eggs survived freezing and thawing, Dr. Andrea Borini, from Tecnobios Procreazione in Bologna, and colleagues report.

A little less than half of the viable eggs were fertilized, and most of these began dividing normally, the team reports. After implantation, fifteen women became pregnant, and ultimately a total of 13 infants were born—5 boys and 8 girls.

With current slow freezing methods, most eggs will not survive and this is clearly an area that needs improvement, the investigators state. “However, it appears that (eggs) that are able to survive freezing and can be fertilized, allow preimplantation development and implantation with acceptable rates,” they add.

SOURCE: Fertility and Sterility, September 2004.

-------------------------------------------
Oral contraceptives available in the United states

Alesse
Mircette
Nordette 28
Yasmin
Triphasil
Seasonale
Ortho Tri-Cyclen
Ortho Evra Patch

You can get your prescription online in just a few minutes. The online medical consultation is free; all you have to do is fill in the information about your medical background. The entire process just takes a few minutes, and then you can order pills online fast.
-------------------------------------------

RELATED STORIES:
Embryo loss no greater with special IVF technique   Exposure To Nicotine In Womb May Set Stage For Later Addictions   Candor about donor conception may aid family ties   Many infertile women want to choose baby’s gender   Increased Stroke Risk from Birth Control Pills   Get the Facts on Infertility   Men’s stress also affects infertility therapy   East Meets West to Boost Fertility   Environmental Toxin Causes Heritable Adult-Onset Diseases   Calcium during breast-feeding may guard mom’s teeth   Vatican Condemns Fertility Help   Alternative remedy use common among infertile in US

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]