Embryo Long-term Storage and Egg Long-term Storage with Your Cryobank

Embryo and Egg Banking at Fertility Center of California

Embryos are eggs that have already been fertilized with sperm. They are allowed to mature to a certain level that allows them to be cryopreserved (frozen). The embryos once frozen will be potentially useful for thawing out years afterwards. Oocyte (egg) freezing is the actual cryopreservation (freezing) of female eggs that have been retrieved directly from her ovaries prior to fertilization.

Reason For Embryo Storage

Many couples have embryos remaining after IVF treatment. Most couples prefer not to discard these precious items. The cryopreserved embryos can be potentially thawed out for many years later with reasonable results for in vitro fertilization. These results are lower than with fresh specimens but offer the couple the opportunity of more than one attempt of getting pregnant per stimulation cycle.

Often times, when IVF is successful and a pregnancy is achieved, the couple may be ready for a second child years later. Many times, frozen thawed embryos result in another successful pregnancy. The resulting child would not be considered a twin. Thousands of children have been conceived from frozen embryos in Southern California alone. We at the Fertility Center of California urge you to consider us to keep your frozen embryos since we have an extensive experience for over 25 years and are highly respected in the Southern California region. Reasons for moving your embryos to us include:

• Limited storage space for embryos at your IVF clinic
• Limited allowed time for storage at your IVF clinic
• Our extremely competitive long-term storage fees
• Ability of our center to provide storage of infectious-disease-quarantined specimens
• Our experience
• Your IVF clinic is closing

Patients who choose FCC must complete an embryo storage contract, which specifically defines the terms of storage and costs involved. This way, we believe you'll find that there are few unanswered questions.

IMPORTANT: California Law requires that lab testing will be completed prior to embryo storage. If both partners are involved in the procedure, lab testing for HIV I & II, HTLV I & II, Hepatitis B Surface Antigen, Hepatitis C Virus and RPR is due on both parties. Testing must have been drawn within 6 months to be valid.

Secure Storage

Your embryos will be stored safely for as many years as you wish. Please be assured that your embryos can be stored for many years to come. How is this possible? We use state-of-the-art technology including 100% vapor-phase storage techniques for your embryos. This technique eliminates any possibility of infectious disease transfer that might be possible with liquid phase tanks. This technology is completely independent of electricity and around-the-clock monitoring assures the highest possible degree of safety.

Efficiency and Convenience

• Monthly and long-term storage are available
• Very competitive and economical storage fees
• Direct contact with counselors regarding transfer and disposition of emryos
• Shipping storage systems can handle any type of frozen specimens (vials, straws and pulls)

FCC does not engage in egg freezing processing at this time. However, we do offer long-term storage services once they are frozen. Storage fees are the same for patients storing both sperm or embryos. These fees are not dependent of the number of embryos or sperm vials stored. You will always receive confirmation that your embryos have arrived at our storage facility. The embryos are always shipped in liquid nitrogen dry shipper tanks via approved and reliable services. These shippers are safe for transfer for at least 7 days but are sent within the U.S. using priority overnight delivery. Please see our fee schedule for embryo storage and frozen egg storage. If you have any questions, please contact us today.

Storage fees are due in advance. We accept all major credit card including Master, Visa, American Express, Dicover, Diner's Club. We accept money order's, personal checks and cashier's checks. We also offer multiple patient discounts to clinical facilities on shipping and transfer of embryo and/or sperm. We are also proud of offering military discounts.

"We sleep better at night knowing that the Fertility Center of California is watching over our embryos." Judy G., patient