Fertility preservation means collecting sperm, eggs, or other reproductive cells for processing and freezing for future use. Once collected, processed, and frozen, the tissue will stay at our storage facility until it is needed in the future.
Why might this matter to me?
It gives you a chance at biological parentage down the road.
At RDI, we understand the many reasons why people choose fertility preservation. We know how important it is for people to get the chance to preserve their options for future parenthood. Whether you have always envisioned a life with children or haven’t given it much thought yet, and that is fine.
Fertility preservation is a family planning tool. People choose fertility preservation for social reasons, time-sensitive reasons, and medical reasons, for example, a cancer diagnosis, or gender affirming care. The best way for you to preserve your options for biological parenthood in the future is for you to freeze your sperm or eggs or other reproductive cells before starting any necessary medical treatments.
Fertility preservation for sperm:
This can usually be completed within hours or days.
RDI works to get you scheduled as quickly as you need. It can take longer in cases where testicular biopsies are required to collect the sperm. While we cannot perform those biopsies at RDI, we can assist the surgeon wherever they are located and transport the collected tissue to our facility for processing and cryopreservation.
Fertility preservation for eggs?
A longer and more involved process, generally takes 2 to 3 weeks.
While we have the ability to store frozen eggs (and embryos made with those eggs) at our center, we do not perform egg retrievals. Egg retrievals are done by reproductive endocrinologists, an MD with special fertility training. The hospital should be able to help refer your patients to one if that is the path they are on. We provide storage after eggs or embryos are frozen if your patients want a local storage option.
How does this process work?
The answer is different for each type of cryopreservation. please visit our services page to find out more about how this works
What if I want to use my sperm, eggs, embryos, or ovarian tissue?
We suggest following these 3 steps.
- Contact a physician who specializes in fertility, such as an OB-GYN, Urologist, or Reproductive Endocrinologist.
- Your physician will counsel you on which ART procedure will work best for you. Terms you are most likely to hear are IUI (intrauterine insemination), IVF (in vitro fertilization), and IVF with ICSI.
- Once you and your physician determine how to proceed, contact us and we will collaborate with you and your physician’s office to provide you with your sample.
What if I don’t need my sperm, eggs, embryos, or ovarian tissue?
When you decide you no longer want to keep your reproductive tissue in storage you can contact us and we will help walk you through the next steps.
Here are a few examples of why fertility preservation may be a good option for you:
- Cancer and other Medical Care
- Gender Affirming Care
- Military Personnel and Extended Travel
- Goals vs. Time
Cancer or Other Medical Care
Chances are the idea of becoming a parent might not be something you have given much thought to, and that is okay. Reproductive Diagnostics believes it is important to inform you of the fact that many medical treatments can negatively impact your body’s ability to produce reproductive tissue post-treatment. If you should choose to freeze your sperm, eggs, embryos, or ovarian tissue now, you are securing your chance of having a genetic child in the future.
Gender Affirming Care
Did you know that some forms of gender-affirming hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgical care can wipe out your body’s ability to produce sperm, eggs, embryos, or ovarian tissue? By deciding to freeze your reproductive tissue before undergoing treatment, you are providing yourself the chance to have a genetic child in the future. If you choose to venture down the path to genetic parenthood your frozen sample(s) will be available to you.
Military Personnel and Extended Travel
Your dedication to protect and serve does not have to impact your choice to start a family. Being deployed is encompassed by uncertainty. If you have a partner at home you shouldn’t have to wait till you return to start down your path to parenthood. Choosing to sperm, eggs, embryos or ovarian tissue before your journey can help provide you with that flexibility.
The same can be said for any professional or lifestyle choice that may take you away from your partner for an extended period of time.
Goals vs. Time
We’ve all heard the phrase “Your biological clock is ticking”. That saying alone can cause stress and anxiety. Life used to be about checking off the “boxes”; college, job, marriage, baby. We are aware that path is not essential to all individuals. You don’t have to follow that trajectory. The proverbial “clock” shouldn’t prevent you from living the life you want to live. If you are interested in preserving your future fertility, we can help.
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