Cryopreservation is a fertility-preservation technique that allows eggs, sperm, or embryos to be safely frozen and stored for future use. At Naarayani IVF, cryopreservation helps individuals and couples plan pregnancy at the right time, preserve fertility before medical treatments, and improve IVF outcomes.
This technique is commonly used by:
Individuals who wish to delay pregnancy
Patients undergoing medical treatments (such as cancer therapy) that may affect fertility
Couples undergoing IVF who want to preserve eggs, sperm, or embryos for future cycles
Cryopreservation involves freezing reproductive cells at extremely low temperatures to maintain their viability. In IVF, three main types of cryopreservation techniques are practiced at Naarayani IVF:
Oocyte cryopreservation allows women to preserve their eggs for future pregnancy. Frozen eggs can be used later when a woman feels physically, emotionally, and medically ready to conceive.
This technique is especially beneficial for:
Women planning pregnancy after the age of 35
Women undergoing cancer or medical treatments that may affect egg quality
Women who wish to preserve eggs for future IVF cycles or donation
Frozen eggs are thawed and fertilized with sperm in the laboratory. If fertilization is successful, the resulting embryo is transferred into the uterus during an IVF cycle.
Ovarian Stimulation: Hormonal medications stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs.
Egg Retrieval: Eggs are retrieved under sedation using transvaginal ultrasound guidance. On average, 10–15 eggs may be collected per cycle. Mild discomfort or cramping may occur afterward.
Freezing (Vitrification): Retrieved eggs are rapidly frozen using the vitrification technique, which prevents ice crystal formation and ensures higher survival rates during thawing.
Egg cryopreservation ensures a strong foundation for a healthy pregnancy when the time is right.
Sperm cryopreservation allows men to preserve fertility for future use.
It is recommended for:
Men undergoing cancer treatment, prostate or testicular surgery
Individuals at risk of exposure to radiation or harmful chemicals
Donors and sperm banking purposes
Semen sample is collected in a sterile container and analyzed for:
Sperm count
Motility
Morphology
Volume and viscosity
Cryoprotectants are added to prevent ice crystal formation.
Slow Freezing: Cooling occurs over 2–4 hours, followed by storage in liquid nitrogen at –196°C.
Rapid Freezing: Samples are frozen quickly and placed directly into liquid nitrogen.
Due to the natural structure of sperm cells, they are highly resilient to freezing and thawing.
Embryo cryopreservation is commonly used during IVF treatments.
Ovarian stimulation is done to retrieve multiple eggs.
Eggs are fertilized with sperm in the laboratory.
Embryos are frozen 3–5 days after fertilization (cleavage or blastocyst stage).
Slow Freezing: Embryos are cooled gradually over several hours.
Vitrification: A rapid freezing technique that offers higher embryo survival and implantation rates.
Embryo cryopreservation allows couples to:
Plan pregnancy at a later time
Improve cumulative IVF success rates
Avoid repeated ovarian stimulation cycles
Cryopreservation is beneficial for:
Individuals not ready for parenthood yet
Couples undergoing IVF or with previous IVF failure
Patients at risk of fertility loss due to medical treatment
Before proceeding, doctors at Naarayani IVF may recommend fertility testing to assess suitability for cryopreservation.
Cryopreservation and IVF are considered safe and well-established procedures. Extensive research indicates:
No increased risk of birth defects
No adverse impact on child development
Comparable pregnancy outcomes to fresh cycles
Children born from frozen eggs, sperm, or embryos show normal growth and health outcomes.
Cryopreservation at Naarayani IVF offers a reliable, safe, and effective way to preserve fertility and plan for the future. With advanced freezing techniques and expert care, patients can confidently safeguard their reproductive potential.