Cryopreservation
Mithilfe der Krykonservierung können Embryonen, die bei einer künstlichen Befruchtung nicht eingesetzt wurden, sowie Samen- und Eizellen eingefroren werden.
The freezing of sperm cells is permitted in Austria without restriction. This often takes place prior to treatments that impair fertility (e.g. chemotherapy / radiation therapy for cancer, hormone therapy, etc.). The cryopreservation takes place via vitrification (flash freezing). This is particularly gentle on the sperm cells. The frozen sperm samples are stored in a specially secured room inside cryo tanks filled with liquid nitrogen (-196°C) and may remain in storage until the end of the person’s life or until a request to end the storage.
The same method is used for cryopreservation of testes tissue following a TESE procedure.
In Austria, the freezing of egg cells is only permitted under certain conditions. These include diseases or medical treatments that can significantly impair female fertility (chemotherapy / radiation therapy for cancer, endometriosis, etc.).
The cryopreservation takes place via vitrification (flash freezing). This is particularly gentle on the egg cells. The frozen egg cells are stored in a specially secured room inside cryo tanks filled with liquid nitrogen (-196°C) and may remain in storage until the end of person’s life or a until request to end the storage.
The practice known as “social egg freezing” (cryopreservation of egg cells during younger years as a reserve for the future) is banned by law in Austria.
An in vitro fertilization procedure often results in multiple embryos/blastocysts, which can also be frozen. The cryopreservation takes place via vitrification (flash freezing). This is particularly gentle on the embryos/blastocysts. They are stored in a specially secured room inside cryo tanks filled with liquid nitrogen (-196°C) and may remain in storage for a maximum of 10 years or until a request to end the storage.