Human oocyte cryopreservation (egg freezing) is a novel technology in which a woman’s unfertilized oocytes are retrieved from the ovaries, frozen and stored. Both classical and vitrification techniques are employed by our embryologists. Later when she desires to become pregnant , the eggs may be thawed, fertilized and transferred in an attempt to establish a pregnancy.

Common indications for oocyte cryopreservation include.

1. Women who wish to preserve their fertility for the future because they have no current partner or for other personal or medical reasons. A woman may for the purpose of career or other reasons, desire to postpone childbearing. Freezing oocytes at an early age may offer a chance for a future pregnancy. Additionally, women with a family history of early menopause have an interest in fertility preservation. The likelihood of these patients experiencing premature ovarian failure is very high, and their options for childbearing become limited without the availability of banking their oocytes for future use.
2. Women diagnosed with cancer that have not yet begun chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Being diagnosed with cancer is a life-changing event. It does not have to mean, however, the end of fertility. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are toxic for oocytes, leaving few, if any, viable eggs. Egg freezing offers women with cancer the chance to preserve their eggs so that they may have children in the future. Often there is a window of time between the surgery and chemotherapy in which the woman’s ovaries may be stimulated in order to retrieve and preserve the eggs. Alternatively, if there is a male partner, embryos may be frozen.

When the time is appropriate to attempt pregnancy, the woman’s uterus is prepared with hormones to accept the thawed and fertilized eggs. The resultant embryos are simply transferred to the uterus. The hormonal support is continued until the pregnancy becomes self-sustaining.

Embryo Freezing, Egg Preservation – we are experts at Westchester Fertility & Reproductive Endocrinology.

Dear Dr. Blotner, Gail, Natasha, Jill, Sue, Paula, Mike, Mary Beth – the entire Team!!

We can not begin to thank you enough for all that you have done for me and J – for helping us achieve the family we have been praying for!! You truly do miraculous work – it is amazing – please keep up for all of the couples out there!!

Thank you so much – All the Best – Sincerely, J & J (and Baby A and Baby B)!