Oocyte cryopreservation
Oocyte Cryopreservation
Oocyte cryopreservation (pronounced: oh-oh-site krye-oh-preh-zur-vay-shun) is a process in reproductive medicine that involves the extraction, freezing, and storage of a woman's oocytes (or eggs) to allow her to attempt to conceive at a later date.
Etymology
The term "oocyte" is derived from the Greek words "oion" meaning egg and "kytos" meaning cell. "Cryopreservation" is a combination of "cryo", from the Greek "kryos" meaning cold, and "preservation", meaning to keep alive or in existence.
Process
The process of oocyte cryopreservation involves several steps. First, a woman undergoes ovarian stimulation to encourage the production of multiple oocytes. These oocytes are then retrieved from the ovaries using a minor surgical procedure. Once retrieved, the oocytes are frozen either by slow cooling or by a process called vitrification, and then stored in liquid nitrogen.
Use
Oocyte cryopreservation is used in a variety of circumstances. It is often used by women who wish to preserve their fertility for the future, such as those undergoing treatments for cancer that may affect their fertility, or those who wish to delay childbearing for personal or medical reasons. It is also used in in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures when there are excess oocytes.
Related Terms
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Oocyte cryopreservation
- Wikipedia's article - Oocyte cryopreservation
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