Fertility preservation
The reproductive age group is finite for humans. Fertility preservation methods helps women, men or couples to preserve their fertility to have children in the future. It can be in the form of cryopreserving the eggs, sperms, embryos or reproductive tissue.
Who need Fertility preservation?
- Hysterosalpingography: A radio-opaque dye is injected inside the uterus and fallopian tubes. A couple of X-rays are taken to check if the dye flows through the uterus and the tubes.
- Saline infusion sonogram or Hysterosalpingo contrast sonography: This method involves either infusion of saline or echo-enhancing contrast agent during a transvaginal ultrasound to check the uterus and the tubes.
- Diagnostic laparoscopy and dye test: During a laparoscopy procedure a dye is injected into the uterus and fallopian tubes and the patency is checked. This procedure is done under anesthesia.
What to expect?
A couple or individual with following conditions require fertility preservation:
- Cancer treatment or autoimmune disease: Before starting chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- Health conditions like fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis or genetic diseases
- Social egg freezing: Woman or couples who want to postpone their pregnancy for personal or professional reasons
What are the Fertility preserving options?
- Sperm freezing: The semen collected is processed and cryopreserved.
- Egg freezing: Ovaries are stimulated and the eggs are retrieved and cryopreserved for future use.
- Embryo freezing: Cryopreserving embryos for future use. This is the most commonly used method. Here the eggs are fertilized with sperms to form embryos and cryopreserved for future use.
- Ovarian tissue freezing: Small tissues of ovaries are frozen. It can be used in children who have not attained menarche yet.