Category: embryo banking

What’s New in Egg/Embryo Freezing: All About the TMRW Tank

by Jasmine L. Chiang, MD, posted in egg freezing, embryo banking, fertility planning, Fertility Preservation, vitrification
Traditional Storage Tanks- Eggs/Embryos are frozen in a small vial with printed label in a designated cryotank and tracked manually or electronically through a separate system.
TMRW Tank- Eggs/Embryos are frozen in a small vial with their printed label and RFID chip in the TMRW tank, and are tracked through the integrated TMRW software system. Here is our All-star Conceptions Embryology Team with the TMRW Tank!

Egg and embryo freezing/banking have become extremely popular options over the last year. A major factor in this decision is Long Term Storage. Eggs and embryos can safely remain frozen for years until you are ready to use them. It is important to feel confident that your samples are stored at a reputable establishment in a safe, transparent, and accessible location. The TMRW tank is an evolution from our current equipment. The basic foundation is not brand new, since we have used cryotanks safely for years, but the software integration system is state of the art. It paves the way for a future where gamete and embryo data can be tracked remotely from our computers, or an app on your phone. Better still you have the assurance that your eggs and embryos are being monitored 24 hours a day every day of the year. Below is a summary of the TMRW Tank concept!

What is it?

  • TMRW Tank is the first and only automated egg/embryo storage platform
  • It links frozen egg/embryos to traceable RFID chips to completely prevent errors of identification
  • It facilitates labeling, tracking & locating samples
  • It gathers data to ensure cryogenic temperatures & egg/embryo wellness
  • It integrates all data into a software system monitored on our computers
  • It replaces old-fashioned liquid nitrogen storage tanks and manual labeling/monitoring

Why is it necessary?

  • Safer and more secure identification system- 100% digital chain of custody tracking
  • Easier monitoring in real-time with integrated software system on computer
  • Integrates embryology storage with the most up-to-date software technology

Who is using it?

  • The TMRW tank was rolled out to 30 leading fertility clinics in the US, including Conceptions
  • It was created by TMRW Life Sciences

When/where will it be in use?

  • Commercial launch was in December of 2020
  • The TMRW Tank is already at Conceptions Reproductive Associates of Colorado!

You can read more about this at https://www.tmrw.org/

How Many EGGS do you think you have left?

by Robert Greene, M.D., posted in Age, egg freezing, egg quality, embryo banking, Female Fertility Tests, fertility planning, Fertility Preservation, ovarian reserve, Uncategorized, vitrification

You were born with every egg that you’ll ever have. Although studies suggest that there may be a process where we can create eggs; such technology is far into the future. More importantly, you’re losing eggs at a rate that far exceeds what you would guess. Current research suggests that most women will lose about 500 to 1000 eggs per month through a process of attrition called apoptosis—yet only one or two eggs each month will be capable of fertilization. A recent summary of all of the available research has shown that most women will only have about 3% of their eggs remaining by age 40.

Ovarian Reserve Curve from Conception to Menopause.png

Estimated number of remaining follicles (from birth)

Although the slope of that curve appears intimidating, the goal of this blog post is to increase your awareness and to empower you to take action. Some women are born with more eggs than others. Some women will lose their eggs at a faster rate. Most importantly, the eggs that remain in your ovaries at any given moment represent your ovarian reserve. Therefore, it is very relevant for you to consider how many eggs you have now and then plan how many (more) children you think you might someday wish to have.

This diagram shows the various stages of egg development summarized in a single ovary.

Ovary demonstrating egg development.png

It takes an egg several months to develop from its status as a primordial follicle to that of a mature fertilizable oocyte. It is only when they reach that stage that the ovary releases the egg through a process called ovulation. Fewer than 300 of your eggs are likely to ever complete this journey. In other posts on this blog, we focus on various steps you can take to optimize the health of your developing eggs; but for now let’s focus on the future of your fertility in the months and years to come.

At least 99% of your remaining eggs are dormant—alive but not metabolically active. They have been in this resting state since you were a newborn. The eggs that are in these intermediate stages of development—which represents your fertility—can be estimated by a simple well timed blood test. Consider having your ovarian reserve tested today. Then think about how many children you envision yourself having. Consider when you will be ready to start or expand your family. By doing so, you can better estimate whether or not egg freezing or embryo banking (creating and storing embryos for future use) are steps you should be considering to assist you in creating your future family.

Zika Virus for Fertility Patients: here’s what you need to know

by Robert Greene, M.D., posted in embryo banking, Environmental Toxins, fertility planning, Fertility Preservation, Personal Care Products

We’re all frightened by what we don’t understand. Many infectious diseases feed in to that fear. Consider for example the recent media frenzy over Ebola Virus; then again over Bird Flu and then more recently over Chikungunya—all of which have died down without the nightmare scenarios coming to fruition. Now we’re focusing on Zika virus.  This is admittedly scary due to its possible link to birth defects in babies born in Brazil. So let’s review what we know, what we don’t know AND what we can do in the meantime.

Recently the Society of Maternal-Fetal-Medicine held a special session to review this important topic and provide updated advice and guidance for women’s healthcare specialists in the USA. Zika is a virus transmitted by mosquitos. Those developing a symptomatic infection during pregnancy may be at high risk of having a child with a birth defect known as microcephaly. Although this link has not yet been definitively established it is recommended that we provide very close surveillance of any suspected cases while additional information is gathered. Although this sounds scary here are some of the key facts to keep in mind:

  • Only 1 in 5 people bitten by an infected mosquito is likely to develop an infection
  • Those infected have pretty specific symptoms including sore joints, a rash and conjunctivitis (red, swollen areas around the eyes)
  • The infection will appear within one or two weeks of the mosquito bite
  • The current test available is nonspecific and can create concerns due to false-positive results (a positive test due to a related virus that has not been linked with birth defects)
  • The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is monitoring places in the world known to have active Zika transmission for travelers and advising those that are pregnant or planning pregnancy to avoid traveling to those locations
  • Meanwhile, alternate causes of the fetal malformations are being investigated including a possible link to an insecticide widely used to control mosquitos in the area of Brazil most heavily effected by fetal microcephaly

Clearly we need to learn more about the Zika virus. In the meantime, here is some practical advice for patients that want to become pregnant:

  • If possible avoid traveling to areas effected by Zika for at least one month prior to starting fertility treatment
  • During mosquito season (as well as while traveling to effected areas) consider the following protective steps
    • Wear long sleeves when possible and stay in air conditioned facilities (rather than using open windows for cooling
    • Use insect repellants to reduce the risk of mosquito bites. Here are two that are among the safest (and least toxic) for women trying to conceive:
    • If you live in an area with a high rate of Zika virus exposure, consider undergoing fertility treatment and freezing the embryos for delayed embryo transfer–a process known as embryo banking.
    • If you develop the symptoms of rash, joint pain and red eyes, contact your healthcare provider to discussed current recommendations on testing.
    • Stay informed. If you subscribe to this blog, I will do my best to remain current on this topic.

For the latest updated information from the CDC on this emerging problem, check out the following link: http://www.cdc.gov/zika/

Latest Update 02/29/2016: “It’s entirely possible there’s something else going on in Brazil — something unique to the population or environment in which transmission takes place.”  – Dr. Anthony Fauci, Direct of National Institute for Allergy and Infectious disease 

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-zika-microcephaly-link-20160226-story.html