The Transferal of Genetic Material
If your IVF treatment results in more embryos than may legally be replaced during the transfer in one cycle, the surplus embryos can be frozen and stored, providing that they are of a certain quality.
The same goes for sperm. If you have produced several sperm samples during the treatment, or retrieval techniques such as TESE or FNA have resulted in an excess of sperms, the remaining sperm can be stored for use in possible future treatments.
In this way, it is possible to have a reserve of material, which may not only be made use of if your first IVF treatment is not successful, but also if you decide to have another child.
The transportation of embryos and sperm
Whether the surplus material must be frozen is a decision you have to make (with your partner) before starting the treatment. It is stored at the CRG in UZ Brussel; after the first year - which is free of charge - a storage fee is due.
If you have it stored there is a possibility that due to medical reasons your frozen genetic material has to be transported to another centre, or inversely that you have to have it transferred from another facility to the CRG.
How is the transportation organized?
You cannot store frozen cells and tissue yourself at home! |
- Through the CRG secretariat you contact your physician, who will review the relevance of the request with you.
- In case of an affirmative decision the physician will contact the CRG laboratory where your material is stored or needs to be sent to. They will contact you to arrange all further practicalities.
- Due to complex regulations at several levels (EU-directive, international transportation agreements, laboratory requirements, etc.) and to ensure that transport is done in optimal conditions only professional transportation companies are used. Personal transportation is excluded.
- Transportation costs are recouped from the patiënt.