Embryo freezing is the most successful way for single, married and partnered women to protect their reproductive ability. An embryo is created when an egg is fertilized with sperm in a glass container. This process, called in vitro fertilization, takes about two weeks at the onset of your period.
For 10-12 days, a patient self-administers daily hormone injections to stimulate egg production. Eggs are retrieved during a quick outpatient surgical procedure. They are then fertilized with your partner’s or donor-spermuntil specialists determine which embryos are ready for cryopreservation (freezing).
There are no restrictions on how long embryos can remain frozen. When a woman is ready, her thawed embryos can transfer to her uterus or that of a gestational carrier (surrogate) for implantation. Success rates vary on many factors, but rival natural conception. Preserving your fertility can be expensive. Please visit our Financial Assistance section for programs that can reduce your cost.
For more information or alternative solutions, visit our Experimental & Alternative Options section.
Success rates vary based on several factors:
