The procedure for the preservation of oocytes is similar to that practiced for in vitro fertilization, except that instead of fertilizing the eggs obtained, they are stored in liquid nitrogen so that they are available when they are required.
The first step is to carry out studies aimed at evaluating the woman’s ovarian reserve and reproductive health. These generally consist of hormonal blood tests and a transvaginal ultrasound to rule out any abnormalities.
With this information, doctors diagram an ovarian stimulation scheme and begin to perform it by administering hormonal medication through subcutaneous injections for a period of between ten and twelve days.
“During this period – explains the fertility specialist Romina Pesce – the patient is monitored ultrasound and with hormonal determinations. Also, we evaluate their response and progress in the number and size of oocytes developed, and once they are ready, their extraction is scheduled ”.
Once the extraction date has been established, the procedure is performed in an operating room and under sedation with a minimally invasive technique that lasts about 20 minutes and after which the patient can walk away.
The follicular fluid obtained in this procedure is sent to the embryology laboratory, where the biologists in charge examine it, separate the eggs and prepare them to be vitrified in vials that are immersed in liquid nitrogen at less than 196 degrees.
Preserving eggs does not reduce fertility for women, but rather offers them a greater chance of becoming pregnant after a certain age when their fertility begins to decline.
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