Fertility preservation encompasses a range of interventions designed to protect or bank reproductive capacity before it is compromised by medical treatment or by age. In the UK, the main fertility preservation procedures are egg freezing, sperm banking, and ovarian tissue cryopreservation.
Egg freezing uses vitrification, the same technology used for embryo cryopreservation. The vitrification protocol for mature oocytes differs somewhat because unfertilised eggs are more sensitive to osmotic stress and temperature fluctuations. The equipment required is broadly the same as for embryo vitrification.
Sperm banking requires a controlled-rate freezer, semen analysis equipment ideally including a CASA system, 0.5ml straws with cryogenic labelling, and long-term liquid nitrogen storage dewars.
Ovarian tissue cryopreservation is a more complex procedure. Ovarian tissue removed surgically is processed, cut into cortical strips, and slow-frozen using a controlled-rate freezer protocol before long-term liquid nitrogen storage. Reimplantation of ovarian tissue after cancer treatment has resulted in documented pregnancies and live births in the UK.
The HFEA licensing requirements and COSHH obligations apply equally to fertility preservation services as to standard IVF treatment.
For clinics developing fertility preservation capabilities, Cryolab supplies the full range of relevant cryogenic equipment with expert consultation on service setup. Visit cryolab.co.uk“>Cryolab
