Cryopreservation

Sperm: We can only freeze sperm for the specific intention of utilizing it for an upcomging IVF cycle. Only certified sperm banks can bank sperm for long periods of time. We have provided a list of commonly used and trusted sperm banks throughout the country.

Embryos: RMA routinely freezes all high quality embryos for future use either after a failed IVF cycle or to obtain siblings after a successful one. We grow all excess embryos to the blastocyst stage and freeze only those with a high potential of becoming a baby. Arresting embryos or poorly developing embryos are not frozen. This results in RMA having some of the highest frozen embryo transfer pregnancy rates in the country. Typically, 80-90% of the embryos will survive the freeze-thaw process and each embryo has a 40-50% chance of implanting and becoming a baby. The time an embryo can remain frozen undamaged appears to be indefinite. Frozen embryos can be discarded, transferred back to the patient, donated to research or shipped to another facility.

Oocytes: RMA does not routinely freeze eggs. There are only a handful of pregnancies worldwide from frozen eggs after hundreds and hundreds of attempts. More research may bring about more reliable methods.

Ovarian tissue: At this time RMA does not freeze ovarian tissue for possible future reimplantation. To date there has only been one successful birth from previously frozen and transplanted ovarian tissue. We are hopeful that future research will make this promising technique a reality for all patients who need it. The ASRM Practice Committee has concluded "presently neither oocyte nor ovarian tissue preservation should be offered or marketed as a means to defer reproductive aging".