Embryo banking is when embryos are created in the laboratory, by combining eggs and sperm, and then frozen for up to 6 decades or more! To create embryos, the person who was born with ovaries does daily hormone injections for up to 14-days (also known as controlled ovarian hyperstimulation) to develop mature eggs which are then removed from their body without making any cuts or incisions, via a process called egg retrieval. These mature eggs are then fertilized with either a partner’s sperm or donor sperm to create embryos which are then frozen for future use.
Embryo Banking is for:
Individuals with genetic disorders that affect reproduction
Couples or individuals going through surrogacy
Women who will soon undergo chemotherapy
Women who take medications that affect fertility
Those who want pregnancy on-demand, including LGBTQIA+ couples and single women
The process,
explained simply.
Initial Fertility Testing and Diagnosis
Depending on your reason for choosing egg banking, you’ll go through diagnostic testing to see what the cause of your infertility is. Depending on the results, egg banking may not be necessary or feasible, or the doctor might recommend alternative treatments to start.
Pre Embryo Banking Consultation
The doctor will review your diagnosis with you and discuss your treatment options. If you decide to use embryo banking, our doctor and staff will go over the entire process including financials to determine if embryo banking is right for you.
Ovarian Stimulation
The goal of embryo banking is to stimulate your ovaries to produce as many eggs as possible via at-home hormone injections that activates ovulation. You will obtain regular bloodwork and ultrasounds to ensure that you are monitored closely.
Egg Retrieval
36 hours post-injections, your eggs will be retrieved via a small needle through your vaginal wall into the follicles and ultrasound. The retrieved eggs will then be taken to a lab to count how many mature eggs were recovered, then fertilized with the predetermined sperm.
Freezing (Cryopreservation)
These embryos will then be quickly frozen in a process called vitrification, which stores embryos in cyro chamber tanks filled with liquid nitrogen until ready for use.