Cryopreservation: Embryo and Egg Freezing

Embryo Freezing

Embryo freezing is commonly used to preserve embryos that have been produced, but that are not transferred to the uterus. To date, over 150,000 births have occurred from the transfer of previously frozen embryos, some having been frozen for more than a decade. Embryos are frozen using a computer-guided process resulting in a final temperature of -1960ºC. At this temperature the embryo ceases all metabolic activity until thawed. The thawing process, however, can lead to trauma and damage of the embryos, leading to a loss of viability. In general, the implantation rates of previously frozen embryos are approximately fifty percent that of fresh, never-frozen embryos.

Egg Freezing

Egg freezing allows women to freeze and store their eggs until a pregnancy is desired, at which time the eggs are thawed, fertilized and transferred to the uterus as embryos. Besides stopping the biological clock for women who are not yet ready to have children, this technology may help preserve fertility for cancer patients, and it can offer a solution for those with an ethical objection to embryo freezing.

At Santa Monica Fertility, our pregnancy rates from frozen eggs are the highest in the country.

» For more detailed information, please contact us about our Egg Freezing Center.