How do frozen embryos work? What is the foundation of it? What conditions does this medical procedure cover? Answers and more you can find in the article.
The following is a list of the most significant facts and information about frozen embryos, also known as embryo cryopreservation:
Frozen embryos: what are they?
The eggs that were fertilised in a lab but were not placed back into the uterus instead were preserved at low temperatures so that they could be used in the future. In this procedure, the eggs are taken directly from the woman's body after being fertilised with sperm and being stimulated to produce more eggs by hormonal drugs.
Embryos are typically frozen after individuals have undergone a number of infertility treatments, such as IVF and sperm injection into an egg.
This procedure is financially expensive, as it requires many medical and treatment procedures.
Steps and mechanism of keeping frozen embryos
Here are the steps in detail:
- A hormone check to know their levels and to know the timing of ovulation, and women are often recommended to take a group of injectable drugs that stimulate the ovaries to grow multiple follicles.
- Do an ultrasound to check that your ovaries are ready to start ovulating.
- Retrieval of eggs under the supervision of a skilled specialist and under light anesthesia, by using a catheter through the vagina to reach the ovaries, then the eggs are collected one by one with a hollow needle and with the help of ultrasound.
- Fertilization of one or more eggs with sperm .
- The fertilized egg is placed in a special environment for a period of 5-7 days. During this period, samples can be taken from the embryos and subjected to genetic testing to determine which of them has the greatest chance of success upon implantation.
- High-ranking embryos are frozen by a process called vitrification, in which the water in embryonic cells is replaced with a protective liquid and then quickly frozen in liquid nitrogen to prevent the formation of ice crystals that can damage the embryos.
- Preserving frozen embryos in special hospital laboratories or in private centers and they can remain intact for 10 years and more.
How to return frozen embryos to the body
This is done by the following steps:
- The mother receives pills or injections of the hormone estrogen with the aim of stimulating the building of the lining of the uterus, then taking hormonal treatment of progesterone to make the uterus receive the embryos, or all this may be dispensed with and monitoring the time of ovulation and after about 5 days of ovulation the steps are completed and this is if the mother does not suffer Any fertility problems.
- Inserting the catheter through the vagina into the cervix to the uterus and injecting the frozen embryos after thawing them, and one or more can be injected.
- Perform a pregnancy test after approximately 10 days to confirm whether or not pregnancy has occurred.
Cases in which frozen embryos are resorted to
Embryos can be frozen for future use if someone wants to:
- The idea of temporarily implanting embryos in the uterus after fertilisation is postponed or rejected.
- Postponement of artificial insemination to a later date.
- storing embryos in the event that pregnancy attempts fail, as this spares the spouses' time and energy. In the event that the first insemination fails, it can be returned with ease, as the embryos are available.
- the desire to maintain fertility, which is typically addressed by cancer-stricken women. Before starting chemotherapy or radiotherapy, the woman secures the embryos; Most of these treatments affect pregnancy.
Side effects of frozen embryos
Women often experience negative effects from frozen embryos during or after egg collection. The following are these effects:
- Cramps and bloating.
- Changes in vaginal secretions .
- infection.
- Exposure to many hormonal drugs.