Cryopreservation

Cryopreservation is a special procedure in which cells and tissue can be stored for long periods to be used later. These are frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen at -196° Celsius. The term used for this technique comes from the ancient Greek word ‘kryos’, which means ‘cold’.

What can be stored?

Cryopreservation is a common method used in fertility treatment. In Germany (country-specific), several different materials can be frozen:

• Unfertilised eggs:

  With unfertilised eggs, there is still a relatively high risk that they can be damaged during the cryopreservation process. Unfertilised eggs have a much greater sensitivity to the freezing process due to their higher water content (compared to fertilised eggs). Water crystals that form during the freezing process can therefore cause more damage. Nevertheless, the frozen, unfertilised eggs are still valuable and can be used to conceive children in the future.

  
  

• Fertilised eggs in the pronuclear stage

  By using computer-assisted temperature programs that control the freezing process and special cryopreservation procedures in which cells are mixed with a membrane-protecting medium (the cryoprotectant), the cells are put in a state that ensures that they can be stored over long periods (years) without impairing their viability.

  
  

• Embryos

  In Germany, under the Embryo Protection Law, embryos may be frozen only in exceptional cases. 

  
  

• Sperm

  As part of infertility treatment, cryopreservation of sperm may be necessary due to the prolonged absence of the partner, a health condition, or difficulty on the part of the man to provide sperm on demand (psychological impotence). 

  
  

• Testicular tissue 

  Testicular tissue obtained in a biopsy (see TESE) can be frozen for later sperm retrieval. This allows for hormonal stimulation of the ovaries in the woman without time restraints. In addition, multiple biopsy samples can be individually frozen for several ICSI attempts.

  
  

• Ovarian tissue

  Thanks to state-of-the-art cryopreparation techniques, it is possible to carefully freeze tissue without impairing the physiology of the cells. The thawed, intact ovarian tissue can then be re-implanted after several years of cryopreservation (autotransplantation). It is also possible to remove the eggs that have matured in the ovarian tissue from the cryopreserved tissue at a later date and use these for artificial insemination.

When is cryopreservation useful?

• As part of artificial or assisted fertilisation

  It is often useful to freeze fertilised eggs in the pronuclear stage and store them for later intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

  If necessary, these eggs can be further cultivated and used if, for example, the parents want another child later. This process is also referred to as cryotransfer. In this case, the advantage of cryopreservation is that the woman does not have to undergo any more hormone treatment or egg collection (follicular aspiration).

• Before treating severe illnesses

  In some serious diseases, there is a very high risk of becoming infertile due to the treatment of the disease. This can be the case in the treatment of cancer by chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery. After a thorough medical consultation and assessment of the risk, those who want to have children later can take precautions to prepare for a loss of fertility and have their sperm, testicular tissue, eggs or ovarian tissue cryopreserved before the treatment.

• In social freezing

  Some young women may want a child, but they may not be able to or want to become pregnant at their current stage of life for personal reasons. It may be, for example, that her own career does not allow for this or that she has not yet found the right partner. In Germany, these women are able to have their eggs frozen for a later date.

How does cryotransfer work?

Once a couple has a desire to use a frozen fertilised egg to get pregnant, this egg can be further cultivated and transferred to the uterus. This is referred to as cryotransfer. Unfertilised eggs that have been frozen are fertilised in advance by an intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

The cryotransfer can be carried out at optimal cycle conditions without any hormonal support. Another possibility is to assist the build-up of the lining of the uterus with oestrogen and to optimally prepare it for the implantation of the egg. The doctor can measure the thickness of the lining of the uterus with an ultrasound scan. Once it is thick enough, ovulation is stimulated by administering progesterone. This changes the structure of the lining, preparing it to receive embryos. The third option is hormonal stimulation with clomiphene or FSH to support follicle maturation prior to embryo transfer. The doctor can then insert the embryo(s) into the uterus using a soft catheter. 

What are the potential risks of cryopreservation?

Cryopreservation has been used for many years, and most studies show no adverse effects. However, an individual consultation is always included as part of the treatment.

What do health insurance companies pay?

Health insurance companies in Germany do not usually pay for the cost of cryopreservation – even if it is carried out due to the treatment of a serious illness.