The good news: some human cells can be stored for longer periods of time for future use using cryopreservation. These cells (egg cells, embryos, sperm cells or testicular tissue) are frozen in liquid nitrogen at -196 degrees Celsius (rapid freezing = vitrification) and stored in special cryotanks at the Kinderwunsch Institut Dr Loimer.
The possibility of cryopreservation of embryos offers the couple the following advantages:
Testicular tissue or sperm can be cryopreserved after a testicular puncture (TESE) or before cancer therapy.
‘Social freezing’ is the freezing of female, unfertilised egg cells for later use. This is only allowed in Austria if the patient has a disease that could destroy the ovarian reserves (e.g. endometriosis).