Whether you’re interested in freezing your eggs for future use or considering fresh or frozen donor eggs to start a family, the process will likely include a common denominator – flash-freezing technology.
Throughout past decades, scientists have made a plethora of crucial discoveries to assist with fertility processes and treatments. However, few have the same impact as rapid freezing solutions.
Not only does this technology provide more reliable results, but it’s also the cornerstone of opportunity for families who are struggling to get pregnant naturally. It offers more options that weren’t available in years past.
So, why is flash-freezing technology such a vital piece of the fertility puzzle? There are several great reasons this process is one of recent generations’ most innovative scientific findings.
Is Flash-Freezing Technology Better Than Slow-Freeze Technology?
For decades, lab workers relied on a technological process known as slow-freeze technology (or controlled-rate freezing) to preserve biological specimens, including eggs and sperm.
During the slow-freezing process, materials are slowly chilled until they reach the safe freezing temperature of -320°F. While labs used this technique for a significant amount of time, modern studies realized it didn’t always offer optimal results.
In fact, when using controlled-rate freezing, studies show there is a higher chance of ice crystal formation and cellular damage.
However, with flash-freezing technology, these adverse effects are avoided.
During the flash-freezing process, specimens like sperm and eggs are exposed to advanced cryoprotectants to guard against ice crystals and cellular damage. While there’s never a 100% guarantee of survival, this process provides better success rates throughout freezing, storage, and thawing procedures.
Is There a Higher Chance of Pregnancy with Frozen Specimens?
Despite the increased likelihood of specimens surviving their thaw, many people wonder if they can still expect quality results during reproductive procedures like IVF.
Thankfully, they can.
Studies prove success rates from using frozen eggs and sperm now nearly mimic those from people using fresh samples.
How Do Lab Workers Use Flash-Freezing Technology for Fertility-Related Conditions?
One of the most noteworthy benefits of flash-freezing technology is the versatile number of ways to utilize the process, especially regarding fertility treatments.
While there are many different options with rapid-freezing, four of the most common include:
Enhanced Stores of Medicinal Plants
Whether for research purposes or treatment protocols, many doctors rely on a broad range of medicinal plants to help people overcome fertility struggles. However, these specimens aren’t always easy to come by.
Fortunately, by using flash-freezing techniques to store these plants, scientists have increased the quantities available in storage. This way, they’re ready for use whenever scientists and healthcare providers need them.
Upgraded Techniques for Cervical Surgeries
Before an individual or couple can start various fertility treatment methods, such as IUIs or IVF, it’s crucial to ensure their bodies are in the best condition possible to support a pregnancy. Occasionally, this requires surgery.
Physicians who are concerned about abnormal cervical tissue or unexplained bleeding can perform minimally invasive procedures using a cryoprobe device to help correct the problem.
Vitrification for Sperm, Eggs, and Embryos
Doctors and lab workers can now offer improved storage for sperm and oocytes using a specialized flash-freezing technique called vitrification. This practice helps in various ways, such as storing extra embryos after an IVF cycle or for cryopreservation of donated eggs and sperm.
Cutting-Edge Fertility Research
Despite how far our knowledge of fertility-related conditions has come, experts know there’s still so much more to learn in the future. To help with this, research centers continue to perform pioneering research on topics such as unexplained infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and more.
To conduct this research efficiently, it’s crucial to have access to the right types of specimens and biological materials.
Flash-freezing protocols ensure lab technicians have the proper items at hand to promote continued studies of infertility topics.
Successfully Taking an Alternative Approach to Your Fertility with Innovative Technology
Any type of fertility diagnosis comes with is a heavy burden of confusion, anger, and frustration. It’s difficult to determine the proper path for your conception experience or determine which options will provide the quality results you want and need.
While no process can offer absolute certainty, flash-freezing has lent itself to more reliable results than ever before.
Suppose you need alternative reproductive technologies to start a family. In that case, you can find comfort in knowing the science used to take you there has been proven and enhanced by amazing technology trusted worldwide.
