Who is a good candidate?

When considering the feasibility of cryopreserving her unfertilized eggs, a woman needs to initially determine her suitability for this process by checking her hormones (FSH, LH, and Estradiol) on the second or third day of her menstrual cycle. At the same time a vaginal ultrasound is performed in order to document that a good supply of eggs are present in her ovaries. Screening for HIV-1, HIV-2, HTLV, Hepatitis A, B, and C is required by the New York State Department of Health.

When a woman is deemed to be a good candidate to produce a sufficient quantity of eggs for cryopreservation, her ovaries can be stimulated with injectable fertility medications in a similar manner to that utilized for In-Vitro Fertilization procedures. Egg follicle development is monitored with ultrasound measurement of ovarian follicles and estradiol levels. When the follicles are mature, another hormone, HCG, is administered to complete the maturation process. The eggs are harvested 36 hours thereafter, using ultrasound guided transvaginal aspiration, with conscious sedation. The procedure usually takes between 5 and 10 minutes of actual operating time and is usually well tolerated. Mature oocytes are then cryopreserved and stored in liquid nitrogen.

Where will oocytes be stored?

Cryopreserved oocytes will be stored in a New York State approved long-term cryopreservation facility:

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