How long can frozen embryos remain frozen and still be viable?
In theory, human embryos – frozen at anywhere from the “just-fertilized,” or zygote stage through the hatching blastocyst stage can remain frozen indefinitely. Once embryos have undergone the cryopreservation process (using cryo-vitrification), they are stored in secure containers under liquid nitrogen. Under these conditions (a temperature of -321°F), essentially no biological or physiological activity can occur until thawed. At one time, births from frozen embryos that had been stored for over 8 years made headlines, but today, births from embryos stored 10 years or longer are not even considered newsworthy.
Pregnancy success rates for frozen embryo transfer vs. fresh embryo transfer?
Pregnancy success rates in patients receiving thawed embryo transfers at SCRC are consistently close to those using fresh embryo transfers. This is quite remarkable, considering it wasn’t so long ago when worldwide pregnancy rates from thawed embryos were only about one percent!
Health Complications for Babies Born from Frozen Embryos
A recent study conducted by Dr. Sari Pelkonen of Finland concludes that babies born as a result of frozen embryo transfer actually have better health outcomes by several different measures as compared to babies born as a result of fresh embryo transfer.
Specifically, babies born from frozen embryos:
- Were less likely to be born prematurely
- Had higher birth weights
- Had a lower chance of being small for their gestational age
Freezing embryos as an infertility treatment offers you a great value for your money.
The technology used in freezing embryos significantly increases the likelihood of pregnancy per IVF cycle, making IVF by far the most successful and efficient form of assisted reproductive technology currently available to patients. Every couple facing fertility issues should read this for a more complete explanation of this sometimes-confusing topic.
How can I be sure I’m getting my frozen embryos and not someone else’s?
At SCRC, quality assurance is of paramount importance. We use unambiguous, indelible identification techniques developed over many years of successful cryobanking of sperm, eggs, and embryos. Multiple cross-checks and system redundancies ensure that the possibility of an identification error is practically negligible.
How do I take the next step toward building my family or finding out further information regarding my fertility concerns?
Call SCRC at (866) 312-0771 and speak to one of our caring, helpful fertility consultants. They’ll be happy to schedule a consultation for you and/or your partner with a dedicated SCRC fertility specialist, who will guide you through every step of the path toward parenthood. View our surgical facility specifically designed and equipped for fertility matters. Take a tour of our facility. Meet our doctors and staff. We believe you’ll agree with thousands of patients who have become proud parents that SCRC is committed to be your fertility center. If you prefer, click here to contact us.
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