At the practice of Ioannis Raptis, infertility issues are managed in accordance with the guidelines of the “Frankfurt Hormone School” (Frankfurter Hormonschule) and the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology (ISGE).
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Egg cryopreservation, also known as egg freezing, is a modern medical practice that allows women to preserve their fertility at a later reproductive age. Through this method, eggs are retrieved at a younger age, frozen, and stored for future use.
The technology of vitrification has significantly improved the success rates of the procedure, making it a safe and reliable option for women who wish to delay motherhood.
During the procedure, hormones are administered to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. The eggs are then retrieved transvaginally using a fine needle and immediately frozen using the vitrification method, which protects the cells from the formation of ice crystals.
The frozen eggs are stored in specially designed liquid nitrogen tanks, where they remain stable until they are thawed for future use.
Egg freezing may be considered in various situations, for both medical and social reasons:
Patients who are about to undergo treatments that may affect fertility (e.g., chemotherapy).
Women who wish to postpone childbearing for social reasons.
Individuals with premature ovarian insufficiency.
Individuals suffering from ovarian conditions, such as endometriosis.
The process includes the following stages:
Administration of hormones to stimulate the simultaneous maturation of multiple eggs.
Close ultrasound monitoring of follicular development.
Egg retrieval under mild anesthesia.
Freezing of the eggs using the vitrification method.
Long-term storage until they are used through in vitro fertilization (IVF).
The procedure is completely painless and is completed within 10–14 days, without requiring hospitalization or time off work.
A woman’s age at the time of egg freezing plays a decisive role in both the quality and quantity of the eggs. The optimal time for cryopreservation is before the age of 35. At older ages, a decline in both egg quality and quantity is observed, which can affect the chances of achieving pregnancy later in life.
Egg cryopreservation is a completely safe, painless, and scientifically proven effective method. Eggs remain stable for as long as needed, and survival rates after thawing are very high. The ultimate success of the method depends on the woman’s ability to achieve pregnancy in the future using the frozen eggs. Age at the time of freezing and the number of stored eggs play a central role in this outcome.
Dr Ioannis Raptis, Obstetrician and Gynaecological Surgeon, is a graduate of the Frankfurt School of Hormones (Frankfurter Hormonschule) and a Certified Practitioner of the International Society of Gynecological and Reproductive Endocrinology (ISGE). He has extensive experience in assisted reproduction, with reported success rates above both the international and Greek averages.
For specialist guidance and support on all aspects of assisted reproduction, Dr Raptis and his team are at your disposal. Contact us.
