In the most general sense, this method implies egg vitrification, or freezing at -196º, which ensures their preservation in the same state in which they were frozen. A woman can then choose the right time to get pregnant.

Freezing egg cells for the future

Fertility preservation methods give a woman the opportunity to postpone her reproductive capacity. The reasons for a woman to freeze her egg cells may relate to her health conditions. For example, it is a common option for cancer patients.

When is egg vitrification recommended?

Patients typically opt to undergo this procedure when there is a threat of losing their ovarian function:

• when a person has been diagnosed with cancer,
• when chemotherapy or radiotherapy is going to be used,
• in cases of autoimmune diseases treated with chemotherapy or bone marrow transplants,
• when a reoperation for ovarian cancer or endometriosis is required, and other conditions.

Apart from this, women may choose to preserve young eggs for future use for a variety of reasons, including social ones, when financial or work circumstances influence their decision to have a child.

Oocyte vitrification: GENESIS procedure to preserve fertility

Oocyte, or egg, vitrification is a process of solidification of mature eggs obtained following ovarian stimulation. Vitrification implies that the eggs are submerged in liquid nitrogen and cooled to the temperature of -196º, at which all biological processes inside the cell cease. It means, when the appropriate time comes and the woman decides to have her egg cells thawed, their viability remains the same as at the time of freezing. Within this method, the cells are cooled so rapidly that they become “glass-like”, or “vitrified”, and ice crystals do not form. Typically, more than 95% of cells survive the process, allowing motherhood to be postponed with reasonable assurance of success.

Fertility preservation for cancer patients

At GENESIS, we can offer various assisted reproduction techniques to enable patients suffering from cancer and enhance their self-esteem. Due to the development of oncology treatments, the advent of milder and more natural techniques and improved early screening programs, the recovery and survival rates for certain kinds of tumors have been increasing significantly. Accordingly, increased life expectancy calls our attention to the negative secondary effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Our Center is determined to help our female cancer patients preserve their ovarian function and fertility and thereby provide them with an option of maternity. Our professional work and dedication ensure such patients' possibilities of reproduction in due time.

Cancer may impact fertility in the following ways:

• Reduced number of follicles. An ovarian follicle is a fluid-filled sac that contains an immature egg. Follicles are found in the ovarian cortex and are limited in number. Throughout woman's life, this number gradually decreases as a result of ovulation and atresia. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy accelerate the natural reduction of the follicle quantity and prevent them from maturing. This, together with the inability of ovaries to regenerate, can translate into premature ovarian failure.
• Suboptimal state of follicles. The number and state of woman's follicles which survive the exposure to chemotherapy or radiation therapy depends on various factors, which include, first of all, age and type of cancer, as well as the type and intensity of therapy, and the number of cycles.
• Reproductive capacity may be retained following the exposure to radiotherapy or chemotherapy. However, continued menstruation does not guarantee fertility. Ovarian function may be recovered, but the quality of oocytes may be significantly reduced resulting from enlisted causes.
• Pregnant women who had suffered from cancer in their childhood are reported to have an increased rate of miscarriage, intrauterine growth retardation and preterm birth.
• Premature ovarian failure is hazardous in that it may lead to a number of unwanted consequences in the long-term perspective. Not only does it put an end to reproductive function, but it can also cause vasomotor, skeletal and cardiovascular problems, ensuing from the cessation of hormonal function.

Currently, cancer patients may choose from several different methods and procedures aimed at maintaining their fertility:

• Oocyte vitrification;
• New developing methods. One such example is medical protection of the gonads using GnRH agonists. The method implies that follicles should be prevented from reaching their sensitivity threshold to chemotherapy by suppressing granulosa cells. Tests done on rats treated with GnRH-a revealed that the recruitment process of small follicles from the reserve becomes inhibited, so they develop into large follicles at slower pace. Small follicles can thereafter proceed to development and atresia. However, in comparison with the shorter protocols used with animals, more prolonged treatments and higher doses of chemotherapy may be needed, thus the protective effect of GnRH-a may turn insufficient.
• Using this method is still a matter of controversy among clinics. The most recent randomized prospective studies show its beneficial potential. Nonetheless, further controlled clinical trials are required to procure sufficient data on this procedure. It should be noted that possible applications are confined only to women.

Unfortunately, no treatment can promise absolute and unconditional unaffectedness of fertility or ability to gestate. However, existing techniques substantively raise chances to preserve woman's fertility potential and employ it in the future.