Freezing embryos is something we do every day here at The Hewitt Fertility Centre. We are one of the biggest and most well-equipped clinics in the UK, dealing with both egg and sperm freezing. But why do we do it?
Egg freezing is offered for a number of reasons, most commonly:
We see patients freezing their eggs for all of the reasons listed above, though the final point is increasingly common. Sadly, once a woman is 35, her ability to conceive naturally is greatly reduced. However, with egg freezing technologies improving drastically in recent years, women no longer need to feel pressured into making the time-sensitive decision between starting a family or pursuing different lifestyle and career opportunities.
You may wish to explore opportunities that are not conducive with having a child, whilst not giving up the possibility of ever becoming pregnant – egg freezing and fertility preservation can give you this power of choice.
The egg freezing process may seem relatively straightforward, but behind-the-scenes quite complicated scientific and medical procedures, as well as complex equipment, have needed to be developed to make it possible. The egg is the largest cell in the human body and also contains a lot of water, which can cause complications if freezing is not done properly. For example, crystals can form inside the egg as the water begins to freeze, potentially leading to unsuccessful pregnancies.
Here at the Hewitt Fertility Centre, we use a process of dehydrating the cell before freezing and then using a method called Vitrification, where the egg is frozen down to a temperature of -196°C very quickly. Combined, this allows us to ensure the safety of the egg from the moment of extraction, up to ten years into the future.
Modern incubation techniques utilised within our lab mean that, after being extracted, we can examine the quality and suitability of the eggs as well as testing for abnormalities that may lead to genetic disorders in the future. After these examinations are carried out, the eggs are placed into storage tanks filled with liquid nitrogen, which cools them down to the desired temperature, and they are then kept for as long as is required.
We understand that when the conversation turns to fertility treatment and fertility preservation, more often than not all of the focus is on women. Here at the Hewitt Fertility Centre, an entire branch of our clinic is dedicated to the treatment of male fertility problems as well as sperm treatment and preservation techniques.
Our Andrology lab is staffed by a team of scientists and doctors who dedicate themselves to ensuring that any issues you may have are dealt with by means of specialised, male-only procedures and treatments.
Some of our male fertility treatments include:
Read more about how a man’s fertility journey is just as important as a woman’s here.
Something we proudly welcome here at The Hewitt Centre is people who take the admirable step of becoming donors. Thousands suffer with fertility issues nationwide and it’s with the help of the amazing people who donate their eggs and sperm that fertility problems can be overcome, helping so many to achieve their dreams of raising a family of their own. If you think you might be interested in donating your eggs or sperm, take a look at our guides for more information on how to proceed.
To learn more about what we can do to help you here at The Hewitt Fertility Centre, then CLICK HERE to read about the amazing things we do, as well as the life changing technologies and treatments that we offer.
Additionally, we have a range of blogs and articles that may help to give you a deeper understanding about your own fertility, as well as helpful tips and guides to give yourself the best opportunity of having the life, and the family that you dream of.