March 4, 2022 - Science News follows up 50 years later on a 1972 report about the viability of sperm after freezing. In February 1972 Science News reported that men banking their sperm were doing so without knowing how long their specimens would be viable for. They recently provided a 50-year update to this report, citing a study from 2013 in which an almost 40-yr-old, donated sperm specimen was used in the conception of healthy twin girls to a same-sex couple. The cited study involved ReproTech's own CEO Brent Hazelrigg and founder Russ Bierbaum. Long-term cryostorage continues to be a [Read More...]
ReproTech maintains multi-step safety procedures to eliminate potential cross-contamination between reactive and non-reactive embryos, semen, testicular tissue, oocytes (eggs) and ovarian tissue. From the clinic, to the maintenance of the specimens at ReproTech, these extra steps allow for the safety of reproductive tissue storage for all patients. After a patient establishes an account with ReproTech, we will request serology test results for communicable diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, or SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19. If a test shows a reactive result, ReproTech will send a shipping container for transport that is dedicated for potentially infectious specimens. When the specimens reach [Read More...]
12/13/21/Source: Cystic Fibrosis News Today A study on cystic fibrosis fertility published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing conducted by researchers at the University of Alabama focused on female Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients' fertility preservation pre-lung transplant. The study found that 78% of women diagnosed with CF want to have biological children but the treatment could cause infertility. The study established that three out of four women when discussing their treatment plan fertility preservation was never talked about. Cystic Fibrosis patients had to rely on the internet and social media along with other CF patients for information about parenthood and [Read More...]
Our clients often ask, how long can I store my embryos? We say, indefinitely. And we continue to see healthy babies born from embryos that have been in storage for longer and longer! There is no maximum number of years an embryo can stay in storage and still be viable. Meaning that someone can store their embryos as long as they wish. The first successful birth from a frozen embryo was in 1978 and since then there have been many successful births from frozen embryos. Beginning in the 1980s, embryo freezing has become a common practice among clinicians. Currently, the [Read More...]
11/03/2021/Source: UMPC -Kien Tran a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. This summary is written by Tran participating in the Science writing mentorship. When a child has cancer, their parents are rightfully focused on a cure. But that cure can come at a future cost: infertility. I am a Ph.D. candidate working in Dr. Kyle Orwig’s lab at the Magee-Womens Research Institute, which focuses on reproductive biology. In my research, I have learned that patients and their guardians are willing to pursue an experimental fertility preservation procedure when no alternatives are available. Sperm freezing is not possible for [Read More...]
Baby born from 27-year-old embryo believed to have broken record set by her big sister 12/01/2020/ Source: CNN – Though Molly Gibson is just over one month old, she could've been born at any point in the last 27 years. Her embryo was frozen in October 1992 and stayed frozen until earlier this year in February, when Tina and Ben Gibson of Tennessee adopted her embryo. Tina gave birth to Molly in late October -- nearly 27 years after her embryo was first frozen. Molly's birth is believed to have set a new record -- one previously held by her [Read More...]
ReproTech Presents Study on Important Considerations for Safe Cryogenic Shipping PRESS RELEASE: St. Paul, MN, October 29, 2020 --(PR.com)-- ReproTech, Ltd. was honored to present an oral abstract at the virtual American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) 2020 Scientific Congress and Expo that resulted from a study designed by authors, W. Brent Hazelrigg, President and CEO; and Amy Erickson Hagen, Vice President of Quality Assurance and Special Projects. Cryogenic shipping containers (cryoshippers) are used every day to safely transport reproductive tissue specimens between clinics and storage facilities. Within the walls of a cryoshipper, absorbent material holds liquid nitrogen to provide [Read More...]
April 2020: A study by Ana Cobo, PhD, et al, published in Fertility and Sterility, found that for some women with endometriosis, early fertility preservation, including egg freezing, can be a helpful treatment option to achieve future pregnancy. The study included 485 women with endometriosis who froze their oocytes for future use. The study concluded saying that the findings “may be helpful for counseling purposes. Fertility preservation offers a valid treatment option to clinicians and their patients with endometriosis to help them increase their reproductive chances in the future." Read the full article.
The disposition of embryos and continued contact with the patient is a significant issue within the embryo storage community. Recently a study was published in the Journal of Fertilization: In Vitro, IVF Worldwide, Reproductive Medicine, Genetics & Stem Cell Biology, which focused on one program’s experience with contacting patients about embryos in storage. The goal of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of one program’s disposition protocol. This policy begins at the initiation of the first cycle and includes verbal and written consent with the knowledge that they will be contacted annually and are to make a decision within [Read More...]
We’ve launched a new customer portal for an easy, streamlined experience. Invitation emails to existing customers will be rolled out in phases between March 19th and June 30th.
Thank you!