Vitotrification of oocytes - what is it?

Often, during IVF, future mothers face the term "oocyte vitrification", but in most cases, what they are, they do not know. Let's talk about this kind of manipulation in detail and consider the main indications for its use.

What is vitrification and where is it applied?

This innovative method is very similar to cryopreservation, in which freezing of female sex cells is performed. Necessity in this arises, mainly, during IVF, when the first landing can fail. In order to not again select oocytes, use vitrified. Note that oocytes are immature ovules located directly in the ovaries.

The main advantage of this technique is the fact that, in comparison with cryopreservation, vitrification allows for a longer time to conserve the sex cells without reducing their viability. In addition, this method practically reduces to zero the probability of oocyte damage during the freezing process, and at the same time, the effectiveness of artificial insemination programs does not decrease.

As already mentioned above, this technique is used primarily in procedures for in vitro fertilization. As a rule, they resort to it when:

• impossibility of obtaining spermatozoa directly on the day of puncture during IVF;
• impossibility to plan pregnancy in the near future (if there are contraindications from the reproductive system or lack of desire in the woman herself, for example);
• before chemotherapy in women with cancer (to exclude the influence of chemotherapy on sexual cells);
• The need to maintain their own oocytes after puncture.

What are the advantages of this method?

When vitrification of immature oocytes, oocytes, the process of freezing is carried out in a short time. Due to this nuance, microscopic ice crystals, which can damage the oocyte shell, simply do not have time to form. Thus, after thawing, physicians can get up to 98% of viable female germ cells. It is worth noting that with cryopreservation, no more than 60% survive.

Conducted on the effectiveness of this method, studies have shown that unfrozen oocytes are fertilized with almost the same frequency as those cells that are located in the female body. When carrying out cryopreservation, there is such a phenomenon as densification of oocyte membranes. This fact significantly complicates the penetration of the sperm into the egg.

What are the characteristics of the vitrification?

Shortly before the onset of ovulation in the female body, special hormonal therapy is performed to stimulate the ovaries. Immediately before the release of the ovum from the follicle, ultrasound is assigned. This makes it possible to establish whether mature eggs are suitable for vitrification. If they are not found - the process of stimulation is repeated again. If the egg is suitable for fertilization, then puncture is performed (its fence).

The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. At the same time, access is carried out transvaginally, using a special needle. The process is controlled by ultrasound equipment. The collected oocytes are frozen and can be stored for a long time.

Thus, it can be said that cryopreservation and vitrification are two similar methods, carried out in the same way, but having their own peculiarities of carrying out. Recently, IVF with vitrification has been increasingly used, including with the goal of creating a bank of oocytes in reproductive medicine clinics.