The Conventional Cryopreservation Method
Currently, there are two different processes that are largely utilized by Reproductive Endocrinologists to freeze oocytes, or unfertilized human eggs. These two processes are vitrification and the conventional, or slow-freeze, method. For over three decades, the slow-freeze method has been utilized to freeze embryos. However, until recently, the slow-freeze method was unreliable and hard to [...]
Egg Freezing is Not an Experiment
The world of assisted reproductive technology (ART) has seen rapid growth over the past decade. Perhaps one of the most exciting advances was the advent of egg freezing. There are many pros for women wishing to freeze their eggs, which up until recently, was labeled as experimental. However, in 2012, the American Society of Reproductive [...]
Frozen Embryos and Forced Parenthood
I never pondered the concept of ‘forced parenthood’ until the Sofia Vergara frozen embryo custody battle hit the headlines of all the major media outlets. The Modern Family actress and her ex-fiance, Nick Loeb, were embroiled in a conflict over the wording in a contract they both signed, when they had the embryos created, that [...]
Cancer Treatments & Egg Freezing
I have struggled with a way to approach this topic that is both sensitive to the women facing cancer every year, while speaking to the hardwired biological desire that women have to bear a child. I had to start by pondering what our journey would have looked like had Lisa received a cancer diagnosis before [...]
What is an Oocyte?
We learn in biology class that a woman produces an egg, the man produces some sperm, they meet up during intercourse, and a baby is created. But what comes before the egg? The answer to that question is an oocyte. While women are born with upwards of a million oocytes, by the time they reach [...]
The Scoop on Egg Freezing Parties
Women will use any excuse to throw a party. There are housewarming parties, divorce parties and even parties to sell you products to clean your house. So the newest party type should be of no surprise - egg freezing parties. But why in the world would women want to throw a party around the subject [...]
