hose who wish to find ways to help preserve fertility can find a plethora of information tailored to their needs from their fertility team.
There are many reasons a person or couple may wish to look into fertility treatments or other methods of helping their fertility. From in-vitro fertilization to fertility preservation to semen analysis, there is plenty of help available for those struggling with fertility.
One option that is often brought up for many reasons is preserving fertility. To fully understand the method used for this, it is important to understand who may find this option beneficial. Understanding who can benefit and why they would make the choice to move forward with fertility preservation may help you decide if this could be a good option for your specific circumstances. For that, you need to seek professional help, who will guide you accordingly. However, prior to that, you can get some of your queries answered here as well.
Why would I want to preserve fertility?
The need to look into preserving eggs or sperm may come up for many people for a multitude of reasons. Actually, there may not even be a need at the present moment but more a desire for preserving fertility "just in case." There are many life circumstances which can place you in this position, but do know that there is help. Asking an experienced fertility treatment establishment for information can help you fully understand why preservation may be right for you.
Every reason is very individual for the person or couple. There could be a medical diagnosis such as cancer that comes with treatment which could put the number of sperm or eggs in jeopardy. Age can also be a factor if life circumstances do not have you ready for children just yet, but you hope to have the option in the future. Whatever the reason, you can get peace of mind knowing you have put aside what you will need for any potential futures you see for yourself.
Working through the options
There are three main ways fertility can be preserved. There is egg freezing, sperm freezing and embryo freezing. Again, depending on the individual circumstances, one or more of these options may not be suitable for everyone, but it is always good to have the conversation to know what may work for you.
Sperm freezing is pretty straight forward. You will be given a specific kit to collect a semen sample. It is best to be abstinent for a few days before the sample is given to ensure a healthy amount for the sample that will be frozen in the bank. Sperm freezing can be done a few times, with enough options available in the bank should the need arise in the future. Frozen sperm is tested shortly after being frozen to check the quality. Frozen sperm can be used at a later date of your choosing for procedures such as intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
Egg freezing is similar in theory but different in the way the eggs are retrieved. The process takes a few weeks, which include frequent blood tests and hormone injections to stimulate the ovaries and prepare the largest quantity of eggs possible. The eggs are then retrieved from the ovaries, usually with light sedation, and frozen immediately for use later when needed.
Embryo freezing is often discussed for those partaking in in vitro fertilization. Multiple embryos may have been created for use during the IVF procedure, and the others can be frozen and stored for future need. To utilize embryo freezing, you do not have to be part of a couple. Embryo freezing can be done with donor sperm or a donor egg as needed.
There are many reasons why a person or couple may end up needing to freeze sperm, eggs or embryos. We all come from different walks of life and may find ourselves in different situations depending on what life has thrown our way. Don’t feel as though you have nowhere to turn when it comes to preserving fertility. Check out all of the options available to you so you make a fully informed decision with a properly trained medical team. They are there to help in any way they can and will help you feel comfortable with and fully understand whichever route you choose.