Home

   Science Bits

Back to Index

New procedure allows women to freeze
eggs for future fertility

     Washington: Researchers at the Yale Fertility Center are now offering a cutting edge reproductive procedure that allows women to freeze their eggs and use them at a later time to conceive a child. The procedure, called oocyte cryopreservation, is being introduced by Pasquale Patrizio, M.D., professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences and Director of the Yale Fertility Center, in collaboration with an oocyte cryopreservation expert from Bologna, Italy. Preparation for the procedure includes consultation, evaluation, and instruction on the use of fertility medications to increase the number of naturally produced eggs. It is aimed to help three particular groups of women: those diagnosed with cancer who have not yet begun chemo- or radiotherapy that is toxic for oocytes, those undergoing treatment with assisted reproductive technologies who, for personal reasons, do not consider embryo freezing, and finally, those who do not have a partner and would like to preserve their future ability to have children. Dr Patrizio said that though the currently reported overall success rate of around two to three babies born per 100 eggs preserved, is small when compared to conventional in vitro fertilization with non-frozen eggs where eight to nine babies are born per 100 eggs, it is likely to increase as the technique, which is still considered experimental by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, is refined. "As in the early days of in vitro fertilization, this procedure is still evolving. Embryo cryopreservation as an alternative to egg cryopreservation has a higher success rate, but it is not an option for many women," Dr Patrizio said.
-Jan 29,  2006