Understanding The Human embryo

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Understanding
The Human Embryo

• FortisFertilityCentre.Com

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What is a human Embryo? The Human Embryo Human
embryogenesis is the process of cell division and
cellular differentiation of the human embryo that
occurs during early stages of development. From a
biological standpoint, human development is a
continuum, starting with the germ cells (ovum and
spermatozoon), through fertilization, prenatal
development, and growth to adulthood. The
germinal stage, refers to ovum (egg) prior to
fertilization, through the development of the
early embryo, up until the time of
implantation. What are the expenses in freezing
the embryo? The expenses are around 10,000 to
20,000 per year depending on centers. What are
the ways in freezing the embryo? There are 2 ways
in freezing the embryo Slow Freezing Vitrificati
on
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What is vitrification? Vitrification in the
context of freezing embryos is the process
whereby the solution containing the embryos is
cooled so quickly that the structure of the water
molecules doesnt have time to form ice crystals
and instantaneously solidifies into a glass-like
structure.Unlike previous slow freeze methods,
which took up to two hours to lower the embryo to
the correct temperature, vitrification takes just
a few minutes. The embryo is suspended in a very
small volume of fluid on the end of a small flat
specialisedvitrification device. The device with
the embryo is lowered onto a metal block that has
been cooled by liquid nitrogen where the fluid
containing the embryo hardens into a small
glassy bead. Freezing or Vitrification of Eggs
or Embryos Freezing embryos eggs
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An IVF cycle will hopefully produce a number of
viable embryos. Those that arent immediately
transferred back to the patient are placed in
cryostorage by lowering their temperature to that
of liquid nitrogen (-196ÂC). At this
temperature, embryos can be stored until they are
needed for later transfer. This process is also
used at Genea on unfertilised eggs. The problem
with freezing any cell in the body is that the
fluid inside the cells can form ice crystals that
expand and damage the cell membranes. Enormous
care must be taken to avoid this. In the past
this has meant that eggs and embryos were frozen
using a slow programmed decrease of temperature
using expensive machinery. What does this mean
to me? Rigorous studies at Genea have shown that
a greater percentage of the embryos cells
survive thawing following vitrification than
after slow freezing. Live birth rates for 2006
following the transfer of vitrified embryos
increased by 50 over those where slow frozen
embryos were transferred.
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What is the span in which the embryo or eggs can
be frozen? According to HECA guidelines the eggs
can be frozen up to 10years Once the embryo is
formed it has to be frozen with in a span of 5
days (Day 1 to Day 5) Embryo can be collected
through IVF or ICSI procedures.
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Thank You..