Egg Vitrification is the most commonly used assisted reproduction technique for women who wish to delay their dream of becoming mothers or for those who have undergone radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments.
Through this procedure, women under the age of 37 can freeze a limited number of eggs (depending on their ovarian reserve), which will then be fertilized in the laboratory and transferred to the patient when she decides to become a mother.
What is the treatment like?
To freeze eggs, the woman must be fertile. Tests are conducted to determine if the eggs are fertile and of good quality. The same goes for men and sperm freezing. The best option is to do it before the age of 35, as this is when the person has quality eggs with a higher probability of resulting in healthy pregnancies.
Once favorable conditions are confirmed, a hormonal treatment with daily injections is used, resulting in the production of approximately eight to ten eggs per menstrual cycle. The patient is then monitored via ultrasounds to observe the growth of the ovarian follicle and determine the optimal time to extract the eggs. Once extracted, using the vitrification technique, the eggs are dehydrated and frozen at a temperature of -196°C, allowing them to survive for many years.
The process for sperm freezing is similar. A sample is obtained from the patient, and it is frozen in the same way, preserving it until the owner decides to use it for assisted fertilization to have children.
Legal Framework
Regarding the legal framework for embryo preservation, Colombian legislation approves artificial fertilization treatments such as in vitro insemination. Additionally, the law protects the freedom of choice regarding surrogacy.
Despite the Supreme Court of Justice advocating for public policy for people with fertility issues, fertility treatment in the country is still not included in the mandatory health plan (POS) and can only be accessed by paying out-of-pocket.
In countries like Belgium and Australia, the state covers up to three procedures for embryo freezing, while in Israel, the number is unlimited to allow their citizens to have children.
Cost
Freezing eggs, embryos, and sperm in Colombia is still out of reach for much of the population. Most people who undergo these types of treatments belong to the upper middle and upper classes (strata 4, 5, and 6) due to the high costs.
The procedure to freeze an egg can range between $6,000 and $8,000 USD.
Additionally, there is an annual cost for the preservation service.
Results
When the patient wishes to use their frozen eggs, they will be thawed, fertilized with sperm in a laboratory, and implanted in their uterus or the uterus of a gestational carrier.
Seek medical attention from specialists who may recommend a fertilization technique called Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). In ICSI, a single healthy sperm is injected directly into each mature egg. The chances of becoming pregnant after implantation vary between approximately 30% and 60%, depending on the age of the person at the time of egg freezing.
The older you are at the time of freezing your eggs, the lower the probability of having children born alive in the future.
For more information on surrogacy, visit Grandes Corazones, and to learn more about egg donation, visit Make a New Family.
At Celagem, we offer various surrogacy programs to start the process in countries with high annual demand, such as Colombia. Access our blog to learn more about surrogacy and assisted motherhood.