Fertility Preservation

Albany IVF offers cryopreservation of embryos, sperm, and reproductive tissue. Albany IVF does not formally offer egg cryopreservation. Current research methods have produced less than ideal egg quality post thaw and post culture. However, Albany IVF will freeze eggs for patients willing to do so for research only.


During cryopreservation of cells, water inside the cell is converted to ice at temperatures low enough to effectively arrest molecular movement (freezing) and the biochemical processes of cellular metabolism are suspended. Successful cryopreservation requires a system that can subsequently return cells to normal temperatures (thawing) without sustaining biochemical or structural injuries. For patients facing chemotherapy or radiation treatments that may cause reproductive harm, cryopreservation is a reasonable way of preserving fertility.


Follow the below plan of action for fertility preservation:

Contact the office as soon as possible to schedule banking. Inform the receptionist that you are interested in fertility preservation. The receptionist will connect you to a nurse or laboratory technician. Provide the following information to the nurse or laboratory technician:


  • The age of the patient. (If the pt is a young male: whether the patient has been able to ejaculate on demand will determine if collection will be possible.)
  • Type of illness and planned treatment protocol.
  • Any reproductive history.
  • The expected time that treatment will commence will determine an expected window for the patient to present at Albany IVF for a physician consult and banking.

A consult will be made to discuss the cryopreservation process as well as an appointment to bank the reproductive material.


The new patient pack can be downloaded from the New Patient area of the web site, can be mailed/faxed to the patient, or the patient can arrive 30 minutes ahead of the scheduled appointment to complete the paperwork.


Cost:

Cryopreservation is a procedure often not covered by insurance and must be paid for at the time of service. Payment plans are available. Please contact the billing department to arrange. The costs are as below. The patient’s insurance company should be contacted regarding eligibility for cryopreservation and obtain a referral if one is needed.


-$50 cryopreservation consult
-$130 per ejaculation processed
-$200 for five years of storage