What is Vitrification?
Vitrification is a modern freezing technique used in embryo and egg freezing procedures that ultra-rapidly freezes cells, preventing crystal formation. In traditional slow-freezing methods, water molecules within the cells freeze slowly, forming ice crystals. These crystals can cause physical damage to cell membranes and internal organelles, leading to a loss of cell viability. The vitrification technique was specifically developed to minimize this risk. In this method, embryos or eggs are briefly exposed to highly concentrated protective solutions called cryoprotectants. Cryoprotectants replace the water inside the cells, lowering the freezing point and preventing ice crystal formation. Subsequently, the cells are placed into very small volume carriers (typically thin tubes called straws) and instantly plunged into liquid nitrogen (-196°C) within seconds. This rapid freezing process causes the water to transform into a glass-like, amorphous (structureless) state without crystallizing. This process of glassification is called "vitrification." This allows cells to be stored for extended periods with minimal damage, retaining high viability upon thawing.Advantages Over Conventional Methods
Vitrification offers several significant advantages over older-generation slow-freezing methods. These advantages are critical factors that directly impact the success rates of IVF treatments.Reduced Cellular Damage: In conventional slow-freezing methods, ice crystals formed during the gradual freezing of water molecules within the cell can cause severe damage to cell membranes and organelles. This leads to low cell viability after thawing. Vitrification, however, completely prevents ice crystal formation through ultra-rapid cooling, minimizing cellular damage. The correct use of cryoprotectants and instantaneous freezing ensures the structural integrity of the cells.
High Viability and Development Rates: Embryos and eggs frozen with vitrification exhibit much higher viability rates after thawing. This means an increased chance of implantation when thawed embryos are transferred into the uterus. Similarly, vitrified eggs show a higher rate of fertilization and potential for quality embryo development after thawing.
Safer Storage: The vitrification technique allows for the safe storage of cells for long periods. The stable and ultra-low temperature of liquid nitrogen halts biological activity, preventing the degradation of the cells' genetic material. This preserves the quality of embryos and eggs for future pregnancy attempts.
Wider Application Scope: Vitrification is an extremely effective method not only for embryos but also for eggs. Egg freezing is a crucial option, especially for women with low ovarian reserve or those wishing to preserve their fertility due to reasons like cancer treatment. While egg freezing with conventional methods was more challenging and had lower success rates, vitrification has revolutionized this field.
Thanks to these advantages, vitrification is now considered the "gold standard" for embryo and egg freezing in IVF treatments today.
Post-Thaw Viability
The most significant success of the vitrification technique is the high viability rates of frozen embryos and eggs after thawing. Compared to traditional slow-freezing methods, over 90-95% of cells frozen with vitrification successfully survive the thawing process and maintain their viability. This rate is a great source of hope, especially for patients who have previously experienced unsuccessful freezing procedures or disappointment due to low viability rates. The high viability rate of thawed embryos positively impacts implantation and pregnancy rates after uterine transfer. Scientific studies show that pregnancy rates achieved with vitrified embryos are very close to, and in some cases even higher than, those achieved with fresh embryo transfers. The primary reason for this is that in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles, the uterine lining (endometrium) maintains its natural hormonal balance, offering an ideal environment for implantation. In fresh transfers, hormonal imbalances sometimes caused by ovarian stimulation can negatively affect the uterine lining. The impact of vitrification is also highly significant in egg freezing. The high survival rate of thawed eggs increases the chance of fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and allows for the development of healthy embryos. This is a critical advantage for women who wish to postpone their fertility or patients who want to preserve their eggs before treatments like chemotherapy. High post-thaw viability offers our patients more chances for pregnancy, ensuring more efficient and successful treatment processes.Our Center's Approach
As Prof. Dr. Kubilay Vicdan, we have adopted the principle of offering our patients the most current and effective treatment methods at Ankara IVF Center. Vitrification technique is, within this scope, a standard method we apply in our embryo and egg freezing procedures. Our center is equipped with the latest technological equipment in this field, and our experienced embryologist team performs vitrification procedures with the highest precision and success rates. Throughout the IVF process at our center, excess and high-quality embryos are frozen, or egg freezing procedures are performed using vitrification in accordance with medical necessities and treatment plans tailored to our patients' needs. This offers several benefits:- If pregnancy is not achieved in the first attempt or if a new pregnancy is desired in the future, treatment can continue using frozen embryos without the need for repeated egg retrieval and fertilization stages. This provides significant convenience, both physically and financially.
- For patients at risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), freezing all embryos for transfer at a later date, instead of a fresh transfer, is a safer approach for the patient's health.
- For women who wish to preserve their fertility due to reasons such as cancer treatment, egg freezing preserves their chance of motherhood in the future.
- In cases where the uterine lining is not suitable for transfer, freezing embryos and transferring them at an appropriate time increases the chance of pregnancy.