8 Assisted Reproduction specialists talk about fertility preservation in both men and women.
For several years now, the assisted reproduction science has developed the ability to cryopreserve young people’s oocytes and sperm, whose life circumstances do not allow them to start a family at the appropriate time. Thanks to this scientific advancement, men and women have the choice to preserve their fertility, while focusing on important life decisions without being pressured by time.
According to Mrs. Evi Kalouta, Psychologist-Psychotherapist, “Fertility preservation is a physical, as well as an emotional, choice. It offers a relief to all stressful thoughts about starting a family.
“When the decision to have a baby is postponed for either personal or medical reasons, fertility preservation becomes the bright spot which connects today’s demands with tomorrow’s opportunities.”
Who does it concern?
Fertility Preservation for Medical Reasons
“Fertility can be undermined by several medical conditions, as well as surgical and pharmaceutical treatments. Especially when toxic medications are needed, preserving fertility is of fundamental importance for both men and women who are sick and of childbearing age. It is considered an absolute necessity to maintain fertility in malignant diseases, where the treatment involves chemotherapy and radiotherapy regimens. They usually cause a burden on both male and female fertility. The need to preserve one’s fertility may be necessary even in benign medical conditions which require the use of immunosuppressive drugs with potential aggravating effects, again, to both male and female fertility.
Such diseases could be the systemic lupus erythematosus, the rheumatoid arthritis, the inflammatory bowel disease and other autoimmune diseases” notes Mrs. Marina Dimitraki, MD, MSc, MHA, PhD, EFOG-EBCOG, Gynecology Assisted Reproduction, European Fellow of Reproductive Medicine ESHRE/EBCOG
“Fertility preservation should also be an option for women with a family history of premature ovarian failure, early menopause, or other medical conditions, genetic or metabolic syndromes, which may cause ovarian failure. Such are benign ovarian tumors, endometriosis, beta-thalassemia, Turner syndrome, fragile X syndrome, galactosemia, etc. adds Dr. Nikos Anesidis, MD, Assisted Reproductive Gynecologist.
Fertility Preservation for social reasons
“An increasingly high number of both women and men postpone childbearing for a later time, either due to career prioritization or the lack of a partner. However, it has been scientifically proven that a woman’s fertility declines from the age of 35 and even more so from the age of 40.
The ability to cryopreserve healthy and strong oocytes at high fertility ages, certainly relieves women from age limitation pressure and gives them time to select the ideal partner “notes Dr. Michalis Kiriakidis, MD, MSc, Assisted Reproductive Gynecologist.
The procedure
It is simple and lasts 10 days. “For oocyte cryopreservation, a lady must initially visit an Assisted Reproduction Clinic. In most cases, she will be submitted to an ovarian stimulation, in order to produce multiple oocytes. This stage lasts approximately 10 days counting from the beginning of her period. It is followed by egg retrieval, when oocytes are collected, to be frozen with the vitrification method right after “ Dr. Nicholas Christoforidis, Assisted Reproductive Specialist, Obstetrician, Gynecologist, and Embryolab’s Clinical and Scientific Director, explains.
Special vitrification protocols, pave the way for motherhood!
Mrs. Alexia Chatziparasidou, MSc. PMI-RMP, Clinical Embryology Consultant, Embryolab Academy’s Director and Embryolab’s Co-Founder, notes: “The modern vitrification method overcomes all the difficulties which, up until recently, inhibited the successful oocyte cryopreservation. Today, preserving female fertility is proving to be an achievable goal, giving hope to both women with serious health problems, ready to undergo toxic –to their fertility- treatments, as well as young girls anxious about the time going by, but who are just not ready yet to start a family”.
Mr. Achilleas Papatheodorou, PhD, MMedSc, Senior Clinical Embryologist, certified by ESHRE), Director of Embryolab Laboratories, underlines:
“In our days, oocyte cryopreservation is the most effective choice for a woman who wants to preserve her fertility. By using specialized vitrification protocols, we ensure impressive success rates. The age of the oocytes plays an important role in achieving high clinical results. Thus, the earlier a woman freezes her eggs, the more effective the method becomes.
In addition, egg cryopreservation gives every woman the right to make her own reproductive choices, at the time she wishes. Thus, women who freeze their eggs are predicted to have a fertile future! ”
Fertility preservation concerns men as well!
“Sperm cryopreservation is a simple and safe method, applied for many decades. The main indications for fertility preservation in men are:
• medical reasons (chemotherapy, radiation)
• male infertility (low parameters in the sperm count, azoospermia)
• exposure to aggravating working conditions (chemicals, toxic substances, long hours of sedentary work),
• Social reasons and postponement of starting a family at a later time.
Recent scientific data confirm that male fertility is also affected by time. As a man gets older, the quality of the sperm he produces deteriorates. In men who wish to become parents after the age of 40, preventive cryopreservation of sperm is recommended at a younger age” suggests Mrs. Martha Moysidou, BSc, MSc, Sr. Clinical Embryologist, certified by ESHRE.
Egg Cryopreservation Program at Embryolab Fertility Clinic
Embryolab’s lab staff is specially trained in the vitrification method and applies it with excellent results. Since 2008, oocytes have been systematically preserved at Embryolab with very high survival, fertilization, and pregnancy rates, ranking her as one of the leading IVF Clinics specializing in the vitrification method. Embryolab maintains the highest security levels in her Cryobanks based on protocols and stringent procedures. Advanced electronic systems control all parameters and nitrogen levels, in order to ensure the excellent preservation of all precious oocytes. In addition, International Embryolab Academy has trained and continues to train hundreds of scientists from around the world in all up to date laboratory cryopreservation techniques.
