When embryos are produced during an IVF cycle, the patient may choose to preserve these via embryo cryopreservation for future attempts to conceive. Embryos can be frozen at different stages of development. Most often we freeze on Day 5 or Day 6.
Cryopreservation is a procedure that has been refined by our adept lab technicians. In order to safeguard the embryo while it freezes, it is places into a cryoprotectant solution that will also remove any intracellular water. Vitrification is the preferred technique and is used by our laboratories to cool the embryos. The cryopreservation and proper storage allows for the embryos to be used after the initial freezing for future transfer.
For further information on cryopreservation, please view our Fertility Preservation page