Oocyte Retrieval and Cryopreservation via Abdominal Access

I would like to talk to you about fertility-preserving egg freezing procedures and protocols. In women, egg freezing is preferred, while in men, sperm freezing is the corresponding method. For married individuals, if immediate embryo transfer or pregnancy is not an option, embryo freezing is another procedure we apply in order to preserve fertility.

second situation in which we prefer egg freezing is when there is an ovarian cyst, mass, tumor, or a planned surgery that may negatively affect the ovarian reserve. In such cases, we recommend performing egg freezing before the surgical intervention.

A third indication is typically observed in cancer patients. If the planned chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgeries are expected to impair ovarian reserve, we advise egg freezing—if possible—before initiating these treatments.

These procedures are only performed if the patient wishes to preserve her fertility for the future. The patient must have a clear desire to maintain her reproductive potential. In order to freeze eggs for fertility preservation, we initiate ovarian stimulation protocols using specific medications to promote follicular growth. These treatments should not be contraindicated for the patient either in terms of timing or medical condition. During the stimulation phase, we perform regular blood tests and ultrasound scans to monitor the growth of follicles in both ovaries. When the follicles reach the desired size, we proceed with the egg retrieval process under mild sedation, guided by transvaginal ultrasonography.

Although egg retrieval is most commonly performed transvaginally, in certain unmarried or sexually inactive patients—if the patient’s individual characteristics are suitable, follicle count is adequate, and ovarian position is favorable—we may opt for transabdominal egg retrieval instead.

As with all surgical procedures, although complications are rare, we inform patients in advance about the associated risks and obtain written informed consent before proceeding.

The ultimate goal of these procedures is to obtain mature oocytes that can withstand the freezing and thawing process without compromising quality. Scientific data generally emphasize that preserving fertility requires freezing at least 10 mature oocytes. While this number can be reached in a single stimulation cycle for some patients, those with low ovarian reserve may require multiple cycles to collect an adequate number of eggs.

It is important to remember that each patient’s treatment and procedural approach should be individualized. Factors such as age, ovarian reserve test results, ultrasonographic findings, surgical risks, systemic health issues, and anatomical suitability for transabdominal retrieval must all be considered during planning."

🍀pebek

Thank you... There is always hope.