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Is Egg Cryopreservation The Answer To Extending Fertility?

By Leona Coffin

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 23Mar2012 Word count: 803 Viewed: 32 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

As technology in fertility treatments and egg cryopreservation progresses, new options open for women wanting to preserve their fertility. Whether delayed out of medical necessity or personal preference, advances in egg freezing represents the expanding innovative technology making having a family possible. However, the advances come with both risk and reward.

What is Egg Cryopreservation?

The cryopreservation of eggs, or egg freezing as it is commonly called, is a process where a woman undergoes egg stimulation and retrieval and the eggs are then cryopreserved at temperatures that halt the cellular process. Then the eggs are stored for use in a fertility treatment later.

What are the concerns of Oocyte Cyropreservation?

While freezing sperm and fertilized eggs is routine in fertility treatment, egg cryopreservation is a relatively new and emerging technology considered experimental by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. These are the common concerns associated with egg freezing:

1) Although several studies conclude that babies born of cyropreserved eggs are not at any more risk of abnormalities than children conceived naturally are, all studies also note that further research is necessary. For some, the potential for birth defects is enough to rule out egg freezing.

2) Although increasing, the relatively low success rate of the procedure is another concern.

3) As with many fertility treatments, the technology comes with some ethical concerns. The primary concerns include the exploitation, and its use to delay childbearing past reproductive age.

What are the Advantages of Oocyte Cyropreservation?

Egg freezing also comes with many advantages. Many of these advantages provide hope for those wanting or needing to delay childbearing.

1) Egg freezing is an attractive option for those who anticipate a medical treatment that could affect fertility, such as cancer treatment. Retrieving and preserving eggs prior to treatment provides an opportunity to pursue a pregnancy post treatment.

2) For those who are concerned about the freezing and storage of embryos, egg freezing avoids the personal or religious conflict of what to do about unused embryos, while still preserving the opportunity to begin a family.

3) The ability to preserve eggs is also a benefit to women that want to purse personal or professional development prior to starting a family. Studies show that a large percentage of professional women ages 41-50 who are childless did not choose to be childless and would still consider having children.

4) Egg freezing is more affordable than egg donation, and remains a major factor in deciding to preserve eggs. It is a gret option for those who are with fertility and cancer issues.

Given the personal convictions, sensitivities, and technological development of fertility treatments surrounding the decision, whether egg freezing is the answer to extending fertility will likely stay a very personal decision.

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