Egg freezing (egg freezing)

Egg freezing is an option for people who want to use their current eggs at a later date. This can be useful if they do not have a partner, have personal or religious reasons, are seeking gender confirmation treatment or need medical treatment that may affect their ability to have children.
The process starts with daily hormone injections for approximately 10-12 days. These help more eggs mature. During this time, doctors check hormone levels and use ultrasound to see how the ovaries are responding. The process will also require daily hormone injections. These help more eggs mature. During this time, doctors check hormone levels and use ultrasound to see how the ovaries are responding. When the eggs are ready, they are collected in a short outpatient procedure using light anesthesia. A trained scientist, called an embryologist, examines and then freezes the eggs. When the eggs are ripe, they are collected in a short outpatient procedure using light anesthesia. A trained scientist, called an embryologist, examines and then freezes the eggs. It is important to note that not all eggs retrieved will be mature enough to freeze, and sometimes more than one cycle may be needed to freeze enough eggs for future use. Your doctor will recommend what an appropriate number of frozen eggs would be for your specific circumstances.

Sperm freezing (sperm cryopreservation)

Sperm freezing is a simple, non-invasive way to store sperm for future use. To collect sperm, a person is usually shown to a private room or can provide a sample from home. The semen is collected in a special container via masturbation. Because medical and/or gender confirmation (including hormones) treatment affects sperm production, it is important to start collection as soon as possible, ideally before starting treatment. Since sperm production can be affected by many factors, more tests may be needed to increase the chances of future pregnancy. If a masturbation sample cannot be collected, there are other sperm collection options that can be discussed with a reproductive urologist, such as electroejaculation or surgical sperm extraction (mTESE).
Once the sperm is collected, it is mixed with a special liquid that protects it during freezing and thawing. This is a useful option for people undergoing medical treatments that may affect fertility or those planning future family building.

Embryo freezing

Embryo freezing is a common way to preserve fertility. It involves a process called in vitro fertilization (IVF). First, hormone treatments stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs. Once ready, the eggs are collected during a laparoscopic surgical procedure.
If a person chooses embryo freezing, sperm must be used to fertilize the eggs before freezing. The fertilized eggs, called embryos, are then frozen for future use. Some people choose to test their embryos for genetic conditions before freezing them.
Not everyone is a good candidate for this process, so it’s important to talk to a doctor. The procedure takes about two to three weeks, and people undergoing cancer treatment may not have time to wait. In some cases, hormone medications used in IVF can also increase estrogen levels, which may not be safe for someone with certain types of cancer.
Embryo freezing offers the best chance of pregnancy for people undergoing cancer treatment. It has a higher success rate than freezing eggs or ovarian tissue. If embryos are not used, they can be donated to individuals or couples who cannot conceive on their own.

Preservation of ovarian tissue

This method involves freezing small pieces of ovarian tissue that contain eggs. Doctors remove tissue from an ovary and freeze it. Later, when the individual is ready, the tissue can be placed back into the body. There is limited information on how well this option works in transgender and gender nonconforming patients. Fertility hormone treatments may be needed to help the tissue produce eggs.
This procedure has some risks. It requires surgery to remove and later replace the tissue, which may need to be done several times. It is not recommended for people with ovarian cancer or cancers that can spread to the ovaries because reimplantation of the tissue can also reintroduce cancer cells. The long-term success of this method is still being studied.

Preservation of testicular tissue

This method is used when sperm production is very low or for young patients who have not yet started to produce sperm. In some cases, doctors remove and freeze small samples of testicular tissue. Later, researchers examine the tissue to find and develop sperm.
This procedure is still experimental, and researchers are studying its effectiveness. If sperm is successfully retrieved, a special process called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may be needed to help fertilize an egg.