Egg freezing, embryo freezing, sperm banking & oncofertility
Fertility preservation
SCCRM offers advanced fertility preservation options that empower individuals and couples to take control of their reproductive future. Whether you’re planning for parenthood later in life, facing a medical treatment that may impact fertility, or exploring family-building options, our fertility preservation services are designed to meet your unique needs.
Fertility preservation involves safely storing eggs, sperm, or embryos for future use, offering flexibility and hope for those planning to conceive at a later time. These options are ideal for individuals who want to delay parenthood, preserve fertility before medical treatments like chemotherapy or radiation, or ensure they have healthy reproductive material available for future family-building.
Egg freezing
Egg freezing allows individuals to store unfertilized eggs for later use. This option is particularly beneficial for women who wish to delay parenthood for personal, medical, or professional reasons. Eggs are retrieved during an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle and frozen using advanced vitrification techniques to maintain their quality. At SCCRM, our experienced team combines advanced technology with personalized care to ensure the best outcomes for your fertility preservation journey. Whether you’re freezing eggs for personal, professional, or medical reasons, we are here to guide and support you every step of the way.
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Women planning to delay parenthood
Individuals facing medical treatments like chemotherapy or radiation
Those looking to preserve fertility before age-related decline
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A woman’s fertility is at its peak in her early to mid-20s, after which a gradual natural decline in both egg quality and quantity begins. This decline accelerates more rapidly after age 35, often making it more challenging to achieve a healthy pregnancy. While younger eggs provide a better chance of success, many women choose to delay childbearing for personal, professional, or medical reasons. Thankfully, advances in egg freezing technology now allow women to safely and effectively preserve unfertilized eggs, offering the flexibility to pursue parenthood when the time is right.
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The egg freezing process, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, involves several carefully coordinated steps to ensure the highest quality and safety of your preserved eggs. Here’s what you can expect during the process:
Initial Consultation and Evaluation
Your journey begins with a consultation with one of our fertility specialists at SCCRM. During this visit, we’ll review your medical history, discuss your goals, and perform fertility testing, including bloodwork to assess hormone levels and an ultrasound to evaluate ovarian reserve. This evaluation helps us design a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs.Ovarian Stimulation
To produce multiple eggs for retrieval, you’ll undergo ovarian stimulation using hormone medications. These medications encourage your ovaries to mature several eggs in a single cycle. You’ll be closely monitored with ultrasounds and blood tests to track follicle growth and hormone levels, ensuring optimal timing for egg retrieval.Egg Retrieval
Once the eggs are ready, they are retrieved in a minimally invasive procedure performed under light sedation. Using ultrasound guidance, a physician gently retrieves the eggs from the ovaries using a thin needle. The procedure typically takes about 20-30 minutes, and most patients can resume normal activities the next day.Egg Freezing (Cryopreservation)
After retrieval, the mature eggs are immediately evaluated by our expert embryologists and frozen using a state-of-the-art vitrification process. Vitrification is a flash-freezing technique that prevents the formation of ice crystals, preserving the quality and integrity of the eggs.Storage
Your frozen eggs are securely stored in our state-of-the-art cryopreservation facility. Our advanced storage systems are monitored 24/7 to ensure your eggs remain safe and viable until you’re ready to use them.Future Use
When you decide to pursue pregnancy, your frozen eggs can be thawed and fertilized using in vitro fertilization (IVF). The resulting embryos are carefully cultured and transferred to your uterus for implantation.
Embryo freezing
Embryo freezing involves fertilizing eggs with sperm during an IVF cycle and freezing the resulting embryos for future use. Embryo freezing differs from egg freezing in that the eggs are fertilized with sperm to create embryos before cryopreservation. This option is ideal for couples who wish to delay parenthood, as well as single women or lesbian couples using donor sperm but not ready to attempt pregnancy.
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Couples undergoing IVF who want to preserve embryos for future cycles
Individuals with plans for future family-building
Patients seeking to optimize fertility before medical treatments
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At SCCRM, embryo freezing is often paired with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) to identify the healthiest embryos. During an IVF cycle, embryos are created, biopsied, and frozen while the genetic testing is conducted by a specialized laboratory. Once results are available (typically within 1-2 weeks), the healthiest embryo is thawed and transferred to the uterus. This approach not only allows for optimal embryo selection but also provides time for the patient’s body to recover from fertility medications, improving the chances of implantation.
With its ability to optimize timing and outcomes, embryo freezing combined with PGT has become a trusted option for many patients, offering flexibility and a higher likelihood of achieving a successful pregnancy.
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At SCCRM, we use the latest technology and techniques to ensure your embryos are safely stored for future use. Here’s an overview of the process:
Egg Retrieval and Fertilization
The process begins with an IVF cycle, where eggs are retrieved from the ovaries after ovarian stimulation. The retrieved eggs are fertilized with sperm in our state-of-the-art laboratory to create embryos. Techniques like Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) may be used if needed to enhance fertilization.Embryo Development
Fertilized eggs are cultured in a controlled environment for several days, typically until they reach the blastocyst stage. During this time, embryologists monitor their development to ensure quality and viability.Optional Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT)
Before freezing, embryos can undergo Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) to screen for chromosomal abnormalities or genetic conditions. A small biopsy is taken from the outer layer of the embryo without harming it, and the cells are sent to a specialized lab for analysis.Freezing (Cryopreservation)
Embryos that are viable for transfer or storage are frozen using a vitrification process. Vitrification is a rapid freezing technique that prevents the formation of ice crystals, ensuring the integrity and quality of the embryos are preserved.Storage
The frozen embryos are securely stored in our advanced cryopreservation facility, which is monitored 24/7 to maintain optimal conditions. These embryos can remain frozen for years until you are ready to use them.Future Use
When you’re ready to attempt pregnancy, the embryos are carefully thawed and transferred to the uterus during a frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle. This allows for precise timing and preparation, maximizing the chances of successful implantation.
Sperm banking
Sperm banking, also known as sperm cryopreservation, is a reliable method for preserving male fertility for future use. Men may choose sperm banking for various reasons, including a recent cancer diagnosis (oncofertility), a high-risk career or hobby, plans for an upcoming vasectomy, or age-related fertility concerns. At SCCRM, our team of experienced fertility specialists is here to guide you through the sperm banking process with expert care and support, ensuring your reproductive options remain open for the future.
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Men undergoing medical treatments that may impact fertility
Those planning for parenthood at a later time
Individuals or couples exploring family-building options
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While age is often associated with female fertility, it’s important to understand that male fertility is also affected by aging. As men get older, sperm quality naturally declines, which can make achieving pregnancy more challenging. Additionally, poor sperm quality can increase the risk of miscarriage and may contribute to certain health concerns for the baby.
Sperm banking offers a proactive solution by allowing men to preserve their sperm when it is at its healthiest. Once frozen, sperm can be safely stored for an extended period and later used in fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI), providing flexibility and peace of mind for future family-building.
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Sperm banking, also known as sperm cryopreservation, is a straightforward and effective way to preserve male fertility for future use.
Contact our IVF Laboratory to schedule an appointment for Long Term Sperm Cryopreservation.
Our care team will be able to answer questions and provide you with information to assist you with Long Term Cryopreservation.
Oncofertility
Oncofertility focuses on preserving fertility for individuals diagnosed with cancer or other medical conditions requiring treatments that could affect reproductive health. Our team works closely with oncology specialists to provide timely and compassionate care, offering options such as egg freezing, sperm banking, and embryo freezing before treatment begins.
At SCCRM, we understand the urgency and sensitivity of oncofertility care. Our team works closely with oncology specialists to provide timely consultations and fertility preservation solutions tailored to your needs. We combine advanced technology with compassionate care to ensure the highest level of support during this critical time.
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Patients facing chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery that may affect fertility
Individuals seeking proactive fertility preservation after a cancer diagnosis
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At SCCRM, we work closely with you and your oncology team to ensure timely and effective care. Here’s an overview of the oncofertility process:
1. Initial Consultation
Your journey begins with a consultation with one of our fertility specialists. During this appointment, we’ll review your medical history, discuss your cancer treatment plan, and assess your fertility preservation options. Time is of the essence, so we prioritize scheduling and coordination to begin the process quickly.
2. Fertility Preservation Plan
Based on your individual needs, we develop a personalized fertility preservation plan. Options may include egg freezing, embryo freezing, or sperm banking. For some patients, alternative approaches like ovarian tissue freezing may be recommended.
3. Fertility Testing
For women, this includes hormone testing and an ultrasound to evaluate ovarian reserve. For men, a semen analysis assesses sperm count, motility, and morphology to determine the best approach for sperm preservation.
4. Preservation Procedures
Egg or Embryo Freezing: For women, ovarian stimulation is initiated using hormone medications to mature multiple eggs. These eggs are retrieved in a minimally invasive procedure under sedation. They can be frozen unfertilized or fertilized with sperm to create embryos before being cryopreserved.
Sperm Banking: For men, sperm is collected, analyzed, and frozen using a rapid vitrification process to maintain quality.
Ovarian Tissue Freezing: In select cases, ovarian tissue is surgically removed, frozen, and stored for future transplantation or other fertility applications.
5. Cryopreservation and Storage
All reproductive materials are frozen using state-of-the-art vitrification technology to preserve their quality. They are securely stored in our advanced cryopreservation facility, monitored 24/7 to ensure safety and viability.
6. Future Family Building
When you’re ready to build your family after completing your cancer treatment and recovery, your preserved eggs, embryos, or sperm can be thawed and used in fertility treatments such as IVF or IUI. For ovarian tissue freezing, the tissue can be re-implanted to restore fertility in some cases.
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer or another medical condition that may affect your fertility, it’s important to act quickly to preserve your reproductive options.
Contact SCCRM today to schedule a consultation. Our team is here to guide you through the process with expertise and care, helping you safeguard your future family-building opportunities.