ReproTech, Ltd. (RTL) has been providing long-term off-site reproductive tissue storage since 1990. In fact, RTL was founded for this purpose and still today remains our main focus. RTL now provides safe and secure long-term reproductive tissue storage for patients from leading clinics all across the nation. Our cryo-storage facilities in Florida, Minnesota and Nevada are monitored 24/7 by state-of-the-art Rees monitoring systems which record temperature changes as small as 0.01 degree Celsius. Additionally, all tanks are manually monitored on a weekly basis by our experienced personnel, our facilities are under 24-hour security and surveillance, each facility has on-site back-up bulk nitrogen storage, and all electronic data is backed up daily with data backup stored offsite. When long-term storage of your ovarian tissue is needed, trust your future to the leader.
Ovarian Tissue Freezing Advancements
The first births (sheep) from ovarian tissue freezing and subsequent thawing and transplant of the tissue back to the individual occurred more than ten years ago, however, improvements in technology have been slow in coming due to many factors. Since ovarian tissue freezing is still considered an experimental procedure by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, it is generally only offered in a research setting with IRB oversight. ReproTech works with a number of facilities which provide ovarian tissue freezing as part of our Fertility Preservation Network. These clinics are providing the service on a case by case basis and are available to assist patients needing this service.
ReproTech is also working with the National Physicians Cooperative of the Oncofertility Consortium, a multi-site NIH grant funded study looking at new options for ovarian tissue cryopreservation and use. ReproTech will be providing the cryostorage services for this ground breaking research. Cancer patients who are participants in the ovarian tissue program will have an ovary surgically removed and cryopreserved before they begin treatment. 20 percent of the ovarian tissue will be used for research and 80 percent for the woman to use in the future. Eventually, the goal is to thaw the tissue when the woman is ready to have children and mature the follicles in a special gel made from brown algae that supports its three-dimensional development. The mature eggs then would be fertilized and implanted into the woman. The laparoscopic removal of an ovary does not require a significant delay in cancer treatment beyond one to two days of recovery. Additionally, infants as young as 6 months could undergo this procedure since neither reaching puberty nor fertilization are required.
Fertility Preservation
Patients seeking fertility preservation services should visit our Freezing Center Network pages for more information and a list of facilities which provide embryo and\or oocyte cryopreservation services for fertility preservation and\or oncology patients.
Disposition Options
Contact RTL for options for final disposition of ovarian tissue once your ovarian tissue storage needs have ended.
