Cryopreservation of Eggs, Sperm and Embryos

Our lab is equipped with the latest technology for cryopreservation and storage, and we were one of the first clinics in New York City to establish an Egg Freezing Program for the general public. By freezing eggs, sperm and embryos in appropriate cases, we can help simplify and lower the cost of future IVF cycles.

Cryopreservation of Eggs

Egg freezing benefits two main groups of women. The first are those who are diagnosed with a medical condition whereby the necessary treatments for cure may render them sterile or unable to produce viable eggs. The second is women who are delaying their childbearing for personal reasons, meaning saving eggs now for pregnancy chances at a later time. It is best to have eggs that are frozen when they are of the best quality possible. For instance, eggs frozen at the age of 35 are more usable than fresh oocytes produced at 43 years of age.

As egg freezing technology improves, it may also be used by patients who are undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Women who produce many excess eggs may eventually be able to elect to freeze their eggs unfertilized, rather than freezing fertilized embryos.

Cryopreservation of Sperm

Our onsite services are available for the short-term storage of sperm specimens as long as the female partner remains our patient. We offer cryopreservation of sperm for men with poor sperm counts who may need a back-up sample stored, those who wish to store a sample before beginning cancer treatment and in cases where the man may be out-of-town at the time of egg retrieval. If long-term storage of your sperm specimen or donor sperm is required, we can help you access quality services, though we do not have an onsite sperm bank.

Cryopreservation of Embryos

Embryo cryopreservation is used most often to store good-quality excess embryos resulting from an IVF treatment cycle. It is also appropriate to use as a fertility preservation measure for a woman who has a male partner interested in parenting a child her in the future. Alternatively, embryos can be stored for a patient who elects to have her eggs fertilized with donor sperm. Embryos are created after an in vitro fertilization cycle where eggs are retrieved and then placed with sperm. The resultant embryos are then cultured for 0 to 5 days before being placed in liquid nitrogen for storage. If necessary, you have the option of using our onsite services for the cryopreservation and long-term storage of embryos.