Assisted Reproductive Technologies

Embryo Freezing

Cryopreservation, also known as "embryo freezing," involves storing embryos at a very low temperature so that they can be thawed and used later. Many fertility clinics now offer this procedure.

Cryopreservation is often done when there are more embryos than needed for a single in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle. The extra embryos are saved and potentially used during later cycles.

IVF success rates are generally lower with frozen embryos than with freshly fertilized embryos, but pregnancy rates with frozen embryos have been improving in recent years. The survival rate after thawing often depends on the quality of the embryos at the time of freezing.

Egg and ovarian tissue freezing

Egg and ovarian tissue freezing are experimental techniques being investigated for fertility preservation in women. They have the potential to be especially helpful for women with cancer, since chemotherapy and radiation treatment often have a harmful effect on fertility.

  • In egg freezing, a woman's mature eggs are developed and removed using standard IVF techniques. They are then frozen before being fertilized with sperm so that they can potentially be thawed, fertilized and transferred back into the woman's uterus later.
  • In ovarian tissue freezing, the ovary or ovaries are removed laparoscopically, divided into small strips, then frozen and stored. Later, they may be thawed for potential transplantation back into a woman's body, or for use with in vitro maturation, an investigational technique in which eggs are matured in the laboratory, rather than in a woman's body.

Remember: Both egg and ovarian tissue freezing are experimental techniques. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has recommended that these techniques be studied further before they are widely used.

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Indication:
For women, Gonal-f® (follitropin alfa for injection), Gonal-f® RFF (follitropin alfa injection) and Gonal-f® RFF Pen (follitropin alfa injection) are indicated for 1) the induction of ovulation and pregnancy in the anovulatory infertile patient in whom the cause of infertility is functional and not due to primary ovarian failure and 2) for the development of multiple follicles in the ovulatory patient participating in an ART program.

Gonal-f® is also indicated to increase sperm production in men with a rare condition called hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

Important Safety Information:
These products should only be prescribed by physicians specializing in fertility or reproductive health. Use of Gonal-f® or Gonal-f® RFF by women can result in multiple births. Patients should let their doctor know of any allergic reactions to recombinant FSH preparations or other product ingredients. Patients should also inform their doctor of a history of cancer of the sex organs or brain and uncontrolled thyroid or adrenal disease before starting or continuing treatment. Women with a history of abnormal bleeding from the uterus or vagina, swollen, enlarged, or painful ovaries should speak to their doctor before starting treatment. Gonal-f® and Gonal-f® RFF are potent gonadotropic substances capable of severe adverse reactions, including Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) in women, which can result in hospitalization. Women should inform their doctor if they experience severe stomach pain, vomiting, bloating, or weight gain while taking Gonal-f® or Gonal-f RFF®. The most common side effects are headache, ovarian cysts, upset stomach, and sinus infections in women taking Gonal-f® or Gonal-f® RFF. The most common side effects in men taking Gonal-f® are skin acne, breast pain and growth, and tiredness. Needle injections may cause some discomfort.

For more information, refer to the prescribing and patient information offered below and talk to your doctor.

*RFF Revised Formulation Female


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