Egg Freezing (Oocyte Cryopreservation)

RMA of New York offers egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, for patients who may try to utilize the eggs at some point in the future. Egg Freezing may be an option for those hoping to preserve future fertility, e.g.

• Who anticipate having children after the age of 35
• Who are about to go under medical therapies (i.e. radiation treatment or chemo therapy) and are putting their reproductive abilities at risk, or
•  Who have a family history of endometriosis, premature ovarian failure, or early menopause.

The relative newness of the cryopreservation and thaw technology for oocytes, and the limited amount of data available to date, has led to the classification of oocyte cryopreservation as investigational by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in the United States. Egg freezing uses standard protocols to stimulate egg production and retrieve the eggs. The eggs are then cryopreserved and stored in liquid nitrogen at temperatures where there is no cellular activity and, therefore, are not impacted by length of storage. When attempting to utilize cryopreserved eggs for pregnancy, Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) must be used.

Prior to offering egg freezing to patients, RMA of New York tested the process and the freezing media provided through their partnership with Extend Fertility. Results showed:

• Over 86% of eggs survived the freezing and thawing process. This is significant achievement as the egg is the largest cell in the body made up mainly of water, which makes it particularly sensitive to damage from freezing.
• Over 90% of thawed eggs achieved fertilization with use of the technique intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). ICSI is a technique that takes a single sperm and injects it directly into an egg. Due to some hardening of the outer shell of the egg after the thawing process, ICSI is recommended in these cases.
• 92% of fertilized eggs (now embryos) survived to day three, which is when a transfer could take place.

To inquire about RMA of New York's oocyte cryopreservation services, please ask for the oocyte cryopreservation coordinator at 212-756-5777 or email info@rmany.com.

In the News

RMA of New York Participates in HOPE Study for Egg Freezing Patients

RMA of New York is participating in EMD Serono's Human Oocyte Preservation Experience (HOPE) Registry, an observational study undertaken to evaluate the safety and efficacy of oocyte cryopreservation techniques. The HOPE Registry aims to track the outcome of egg freezing cycles from participating cycles around the country and to validate the efficacy of the different techniques used to freeze and thaw eggs. Results of safety and efficacy of egg freezing techniques along with pregnancy outcomes resultant from the thawing of cryopreserved eggs will be published for public access upon completion of the study.

Stated Dr. Alan Copperman in a press release: "We need to validate the safety and efficacy of egg freezing for it to become a more widely available option for women who for a variety of reasons would like to preserve their fertility. The HOPE Registry is an exciting vehicle that will assist us in the evidence-gathering process and will facilitate the furthering of the science and the acceptance of egg freezing as an effective clinical practice."

If you would like to know more about egg freezing and the HOPE Study, please contact us at info@rmany.com.

Marie Claire Magazine Writer Writes About Her Egg Freezing Experience at RMA of New York and appears with Dr. Tanmoy Mukherjee on Fox Channel's Mike and Juliet Show

 Marie Claire writer and RMA of New York Patient Sarah Elizabeth Richards talks about her personal experience in freezing her eggs. Click here to read the article. Click here to watch the Mike and Juliet Show featuring her and Dr. Mukherjee's interview.

WCBS Health Watch: Egg Freezing

March 19, 2008- WCBS Reporter Dr. Holly Phillips interviews Dr. Alan Copperman and Extend Fertility/RMA of New York patient Lucia Vazquez about the benefits of egg freezing. Click here to watch the news clip.

Wall Street Journal Article: Why Some Single Women Choose to Freeze Their Eggs

February 14, 2008; Page D1
Link to Article