Medical freezing refers to the freezing of eggs and sperm for medical reasons. Learn all about the requirements, procedure, and costs.
Key Facts
- Medical freezing involves freezing germ cells (eggs and sperm) for medical reasons to preserve fertility for the future.
- Primarily used for cancer patients who may face fertility-threatening treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation.
- The survival rate of frozen eggs after thawing is approximately 90%.
- Frozen sperm show comparable pregnancy rates to fresh samples, making them a reliable option for future use.
- The costs associated with medical freezing are typically covered by health insurance when medically indicated.
Introduction
Modern reproductive medicine offers various ways to preserve fertility in both women and men. One such method is known as medical freezing, which involves freezing sperm, unfertilised eggs, or ovarian tissue to facilitate future pregnancies.
Unlike social freezing, where eggs or sperm are frozen for personal reasons (e.g., not having the right partner at the moment) for future family planning, the medical prerequisites for medical freezing are clearly defined.
In the following sections, you will learn how medical freezing works, which treatments are covered by health insurance, and what advantages it offers for your fertility.
What is Medical Freezing?
Medical freezing refers to the preventive freezing of germ cells for medical reasons. The main goal is to preserve the fertility of individuals who might suffer permanent fertility impairment due to an illness or its treatment.
Patients who require oncological treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation, are particularly affected. These therapies can damage germ cells, making natural conception later difficult or impossible.
A study shows that the cryopreservation of eggs is an efficient method for establishing an egg reserve in young cancer patients. The study examined 508 women who had their eggs frozen between 1996 and 2021. The results showed that approximately 41% of the patients who used their frozen eggs successfully became pregnant.
This highlights the success rates of the method and underscores its significance as a standard option for fertility preservation during oncological treatments.
Indications for Medical Freezing
Freezing eggs, sperm, and ovarian tissue for medical reasons can be necessary in various situations. The most common indications include:
- Cancer Therapy: Chemotherapy, radiation, or surgical interventions can impair germ cell function, reduce the quality of eggs or sperm, or even completely destroy them.
- Autoimmune Diseases: Certain conditions, such as lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis, can damage germ cells through immunomodulating therapies.
- Genetic Disorders: Women with a genetically predisposed risk for early menopause, such as Turner syndrome, or men with genetic disorders affecting sperm production, can fulfill their desire to have children through medical freezing.
- Endometriosis: In women with severe endometriosis that damages ovarian tissue, egg retrieval and subsequent vitrification can be a way to preserve fertility. However, egg freezing is not always considered a medical indication for endometriosis.
This wide range of indications shows how valuable medical freezing has become as part of modern medicine. It not only offers a medical solution but also provides patients with hope and a perspective for the future.
Success Rates of Medical Freezing
The success rates of medical freezing depend on various factors:
- Age at Retrieval: Younger women generally have better egg quality, which increases the chances of a future pregnancy.
- Number of Retrieved Germ Cells: The more eggs or sperm that can be frozen, the greater the chances of a successful artificial insemination later.
- Quality of Storage: Modern cryopreservation methods, such as vitrification (rapid freezing), ensure that cells are optimally preserved.
A meta-analysis shows that the survival rate of frozen eggs after thawing is around 90%. The subsequent fertilization rate is about 70%, with the likelihood of a successful pregnancy depending on the individual's starting conditions.
The successes with cryopreserved sperm are also noteworthy. A study shows that freezing and thawing sperm, particularly in patients who have undergone cancer-related gonadotoxicity, have high success rates. With the help of modern techniques such as vitrification and the use of cryoprotectants, damage to the sperm can be minimized. As a result, many important properties, such as DNA integrity and sperm motility, are largely preserved. It has been observed that pregnancy rates using cryopreserved sperm for procedures like IVF or ICSI are comparable to those using fresh samples, especially when cryopreservation is performed correctly.
Carolin Kaulfersch
Risks and Side Effects
Despite the many advantages, medical freezing is not without risks:
- For Women: Hormonal stimulation, which is carried out before egg retrieval, can cause side effects such as mood swings, weight gain, or the so-called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). The latter is rare but can lead to serious health complications.
- For Men: Sperm retrieval is generally straightforward but can pose risks in rare cases where surgical extraction through TESE (testicular sperm extraction) is required, such as in azoospermia (absence of sperm in the ejaculate).
- Psychological Stress: For many affected individuals, the procedure is emotionally burdensome, as it often takes place during an already difficult phase of life.
Procedure of Medical Freezing
The freezing process differs slightly between women and men. Women typically undergo hormonal stimulation to mature multiple eggs. The mature eggs are then retrieved through a minor surgical procedure and subsequently frozen. Depending on individual circumstances, this process can take approximately two to four weeks. For men, the process is often less complex and involves providing a sperm sample, which is then frozen.
Freezing is performed at extremely low temperatures in liquid nitrogen. Care is taken to freeze the cells as quickly as possible to prevent damage and maintain quality for future use. The frozen cells can theoretically be stored indefinitely until the individual is ready to pursue pregnancy.
Frozen eggs can only be fertilised through a specific form of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). Using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a single sperm is directly injected into the egg to achieve fertilization.
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Coverage by Health Insurance
In Switzerland, the regulations for coverage of medical freezing by health insurance are clearly defined, provided that there is a medical necessity. The compulsory health insurance (OKP) covers the costs for the cryopreservation of eggs, sperm, or ovarian tissue when it is medically required, for example, before chemotherapy or radiation therapy that could endanger fertility.
For social freezing, which does not have a medical indication, patients must bear the costs themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I undergo medical freezing?
If you are considering medical freezing, various facilities are available for you. Many university hospitals in Switzerland offer medical freezing as part of their reproductive medicine services. They are often the first point of contact for patients who need fertility preservation due to cancer. Fertility centers, specialized departments in regional clinics such as urology or gynecology, and women's clinics also offer medical freezing.
Can I transport my frozen germ cells to another country?
Yes, transport is possible. Most facilities that perform medical freezing offer specialized logistics solutions for this purpose.
Takeaway
Medical freezing is an important option for fertility preservation. By freezing germ cells, patients maintain the chance for future family planning. In Switzerland, affected patients also benefit from comprehensive financial support from health insurance companies.
Medical freezing can provide not only medical but also psychological relief—the knowledge that the chance of having a family is preserved offers security and perspective to those affected.
