What is a cryocycle?

Cryocycle means usage of frozen embryos in repeated treatment cycles. In a treatment cycle like this, the multifollicular ovarian stimulation is not performed, and this leads to alower hormonal influence on the organism of the future mother. This significantly increases the chances for pregnancy onset.

Cryocycle is recommended in the following cases:
• after failed IVF attempt;
• if the couple already has plans for the second and third child while planning their first IVF;
• if there is a cancer condition and the upcoming treatment may affect further ability to reproduction;
• in the presence of diabetes mellitus or azoospermia in men.

The appliance of cryocycle has a number of advantages for the patient, namely:
• an opportunity to postpone the implantation of the embryo into the uterine cavity for the time needed for woman’s body to restore after hormonal hyperstimulation. By postponing the embryo transfer for a month or more, doctors are able to stabilize the hormones, therefore the probability of successful IVF program increases significantly;
• an opportunity to avoid one of the most dangerous complications of IVF program – multiple pregnancy. The development of multiple pregnancy has great risks for the successful pregnancy flow and the birth of healthy children;
• an opportunity to perform genetic diagnosis of the embryo using NGS method, which makes possible to identify embryos bearing chromosomal pathology and thus prevent failed IVF due to the natural ability of the uterus to reject an unhealthy embryo;
• reduction of financial costs of patients if the first IVF attempt failed – cryocycle allows avoiding repeated ovulation stimulation and using.

Inna Moroz, MD

Infertility Treatment For Men

Altering lifestyle factors. Improving lifestyle and behavioral factors can improve chances for pregnancy, including discontinuing select medications, reducing/eliminating harmful substances, improving frequency and timing of intercourse, establishing regular exercise, and optimizing other factors that may otherwise impair fertility.

Medications. Certain medications may improve a man’s sperm count and the likelihood of achieving a successful pregnancy. These medicines may increase testicular function, including sperm production and quality.

Surgery. In select conditions, surgery may be able to reverse a sperm blockage and restore fertility. In other cases, surgically repairing a varicocele may improve overall chances for pregnancy.

Sperm retrieval. These techniques obtain sperm when ejaculation is a problem or when no sperm are present in the ejaculated fluid. They may also be used in cases where assisted reproductive techniques are planned and sperm counts are low or otherwise abnormal.

Inna Moroz, MD

Assisted reproductive technology (ART)

What is ART?

ART is any fertility treatment in which the egg and sperm are handled. An ART health team includes physicians, psychologists, embryologists, lab technicians, nurses and allied health professionals who work together to help infertile couples achieve pregnancy.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the most common ART technique. It involves stimulating and retrieving multiple mature eggs from a woman, fertilizing them with a man’s sperm in a dish in a lab, and implanting the embryos in the uterus three to five days after fertilization. Other techniques are sometimes used in an IVF cycle, such as:

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
A single healthy sperm is injected directly into a mature egg. ICSI is often used when there is poor semen quality or quantity, or if fertilization attempts during prior IVF cycles failed.

Assisted hatching. This technique assists the implantation of the embryo into the lining of the uterus by opening the outer covering of the embryo (hatching).

Donor eggs or sperm. Most ART is done using the woman’s own eggs and her partner’s sperm. However, if there are severe problems with either the eggs or sperm, you may choose to use eggs, sperm or embryos from a known or anonymous donor.

Gestational carrier. Women who don’t have a functional uterus or for whom pregnancy poses a serious health risk might choose IVF using a gestational carrier. In this case, the couple’s embryo is placed in the uterus of the carrier for pregnancy.

Inna Moroz, MD

Infertility Treatment For Women

Although a woman may need just one or two therapies to restore fertility, it’s possible that several different types of treatment may be needed before she’s able to conceive.

Stimulating ovulation with fertility drugs. Fertility drugs are the main treatment for women who are infertile due to ovulation disorders. These medications regulate or induce ovulation. Talk with your doctor about fertility drug options — including the benefits and risks of each type.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI). During IUI, healthy sperm is placed directly in the uterus around the time the woman’s ovary releases one or more eggs to be fertilized. Depending on the reasons for infertility, the timing of IUI can be coordinated with your normal cycle or with fertility medications.
Surgery to restore fertility. Uterine problems such as endometrial polyps, a uterine septum or intrauterine scar tissue can be treated with hysteroscopic surgery.

Inna Moroz, MD

Fertility Treatment Is Not a Magic But Can Dramatically Improve Your Chances When Started In Time.

So, When Is The Good Time?

Speaking of fertility treatments – sooner the better, don’t delay seeking help thinking that fertility treatments will make up for the lost time. Unfortunately, fertility treatments are less successful with age.

One study looked at conception rates for women who start trying to conceive at age 30, 35, and 40, and then whether fertility treatments could make up for the pregnancies lost from delaying childbearing. They found that fertility treatments could only make up for half of the successful pregnancies lost when delaying conception until age 35 instead of starting at age 30, and only make up for 30 percent of the healthy pregnancies lost when women delayed starting at age 40 instead of at age 35. 

My practice confirms pretty much the same alarming numbers. So, if you made your mind about having a baby please hurry up! Being pro-active is a good strategy.

Inna Moroz, MD