Ovarian tissue cryopreservation
and transfer overview
The ovaries are home to a woman’s lifetime reserve of
eggs. By the time a female begins
her menstrual cycle, her egg reserve has shrunk to about 400,000 eggs from
several million at birth. As a
woman ages, her egg reserve continues to diminish and by menopause, her reserve
is depleted. Ovarian tissue transfer and cryopreservation
present an alternative to egg freezing for women unable to produce viable eggs
or those who wish to extend or preserve their fertility. This outpatient
procedure involves removing an ovary, microsurgically dissecting the tissue, a
computer controlled, gradual freezing process and subsequent preservation for
future transplantation.
Early ovarian tissue transfer
attempts date back to the 1950’s, with the procedure becoming commonplace for
cancer patients in the 1990s. The procedure’s advances and increasing success rates are largely
attributed to advancements in tissue cryopreservation. To date, five successful
live births have been reported following ovarian transplantation in patients from
Sweden, Belgium, Spain and the United States.
At New Hope, we preserve reproductive tissue using a
flash freeze method called vitrification.
This technique involves initially freezing tissue in a low concentration
of anti-freeze solution with physiological buffers, which draws water out from
the cell. The tissue is then
placed in a high concentration solution that instantly freezes the tissue
without ice crystal formation.
New Hope’s Founder and Medical Director, Dr. John
Zhang, began his ovarian tissue cryopreservation research nearly 15 years ago. His colleague Dr. Sherman Silber was
one of the first doctors to publish on a live birth resulting from an ovarian
transfer. Dr. Silber has also performed
numerous frozen tissue transplantations to restore normal menstrual
periods. Together, Drs. Zhang and
Silber are recognized globally as leading experts in ovarian tissue transfer
and cryopreservation.
Why choose ovarian tissue transfer and
cryopreservation?
Ovarian tissue transfer and cryopreservation offers
several advantages over freezing eggs.
Egg collection and preservation requires the retrieval of mature eggs at
a specific time during the menstrual cycle. This process requires the woman to undergo hormone treatment
and it only yields one to six quality eggs per treatment cycle. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and
transfer, on the other hand, circumvents these low retrieval rates by
preserving a woman’s entire ovarian reserve, which contains potentially
thousands of eggs.
Benefits Overview
·
Many eggs can be preserved at one time
·
Ovarian tissue can be extracted at any
time during the menstrual cycle
·
Allows reproductive function to be
restored after cancer treatment
·
Minimally invasive and simple
procedure
·
No hormone treatment required
·
Ovarian extraction and preservation
can be done in one treatment rather than several
·
Decreases chance of multiple
pregnancies
·
Cost effective
Success rates
At New Hope Fertility, Drs. Zhang and Silber have
successfully achieved six spontaneous pregnancies and deliveries after fresh
ovarian tissue transplantation. We
have also achieved one of the first live births from Natural Cycle IVF
following a fresh ovarian tissue transfer.
Frequently Asked
Questions
How long does the procedure take?
The procedure lasts 30-60 minutes.
Is it a complicated procedure?
It is a minimally invasive
procedure done by laparoscopy.
Are there any known complications?
The complications are general laparoscopic complications,
which include minor bleeding and bruising around incision site.
Does it leave any visible scarring?
No. Only two
5mm incisions are made below the bikini line.
How much does the procedure cost?
The cost is approximately $6,000-$10,000. As an outpatient procedure performed in
a hospital, costs include hospital and freezing fees.
Is Mini-IVF an option immediately after the
procedure?
Even with one ovary left, Mini-IVF is still an option.
Can the procedure be performed on women in their
early 40s?
Yes.
However, it is most effective in women in their 20s and 30s.
If the ovarian tissue is transferred back several
years following extraction, can it delay the onset of menopause?
There is a 10% chance that menopause will be delayed a
minimum of one to two years.
Does the ovary function normally when it is
re-implanted?
You should gain full ovarian function within two to
three months following transfer.
Which doctors at New Hope perform the procedure?
In New York, Dr. Zhang will carry out the procedure.