What is Vitrification process ?

Vitrification (from Latin vitreum, "glass" via French vitrifier) is the transformation of a substance into a glass, that is to say a non-crystalline amorphous solid. In the production of ceramics, vitrification is responsible for its impermeability to water.

Vitrification is the newest method of cryo-preservation that cause ultra-rapid freezing. Using cryo-protectants and cryo-coolants, the egg/ embryo/sperm is cooled from a room temperature of 37 degrees to -196 degrees in a matter of few seconds-that is why it is called ‘ flash-freezing’- so that there is no time for intracellular ice formation and the vitrified material sets into a so called “glass”. The structural integrity and fertilization potential of subsequently de-vitrified egg is same as that of the fresh egg

Vitrification is the most advanced method of cryo-preservation by ultra-rapid freezing.” It gives good results, as in this new technique there is hardly any loss of embryos or quality of embryos with regard to it’s implantation potential in the freeze-thaw cycle.

Major advantages of Vitrification over Slow freezing are :

• • Its prevents ice crystal formation within the cells, which can damage the embryo.
• • It eliminates use of expensive freezing unit(required for slow freezing).
• • High survival rate post thaw.
• •High pregnancy rate following transfer of thawed vitrified embryos.

At ourSairaj fertility centre, we have been using vitrification for a number of years to cryopreserve both embryos and eggs. When it comes to embryo cryopreservation, we freeze all stages of embryos i.e. Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5 and Day 6.