Ovarian freezing in women involves its removal through a microsurgical procedure and transplantation in the future when appropriate conditions for fertilization are created. Freezing the ovary allows for the procedure to be performed with all eggs, rather than extracting each one separately.
The freezing is performed using the vitrification method, which allows for the preservation of the egg for the possibility of having a child in the future.
Ovarian tissue freezing is recommended for the following patients:
- women with ovarian pathology that requires removal or patients who will undergo chemotherapy, which poses a risk of damaging the reproductive system;
- women aged 33-38 who, for various reasons, are currently unable to conceive but plan to do so in the future;
- donor women who have decided to donate their eggs.
Ovarian freezing in Israel is particularly relevant for younger women diagnosed with severe conditions such as leukemia, lymphoma, etc. Ovarian tissue will be carefully extracted through surgical intervention and frozen "until better times." After the treatment course, when the patient's body is ready for pregnancy, the preserved ovary is transplanted back, restoring the ability to produce eggs.
This procedure may be necessary for women who, for genetic or other reasons, do not have ovaries or whose functional capabilities are insufficient. In such cases, a donor ovary may be transplanted to restore reproductive function.
After thawing, the ovary fully regains its functions. Freezing preserves the structure of the ovary, follicles, and cellular components of the stroma, allowing for the restoration of endocrine functions after transplantation.
Cryopreservation in Israel involves a step-by-step freezing of tissues to a temperature of minus 140 degrees, followed by placement in a cryobank with liquid nitrogen, where the temperature is minus 196 degrees.