Massachusetts General Hospital

Our Approach

The Cryopreservation Program at the Mass General Fertility Center offers cutting edge and novel technology in oocyte cryopreservation (egg banking) for fertility preservation. This procedure has been developed at the Mass General by a highly specialized multidisciplanary cryobiology team of physicians, embryologists, and cryobiologists.  In addition, embryo cryopreservation  including blastocyst freezing and embryo banking is provided.

During cryopreservation, cells—such as eggs, sperm or human embryos—are cooled to low sub-zero temperatures (typically 77 K or −196°C) to obtain suspended animation. The cryopreservation of sperm and of embryos has been offered for decades. However, cryopreservation of the human egg is a recent development, and novel research at Mass General continues to advance this technology.

What to Expect

Many of our patients are being treated at Mass General Fertility Center for conditions that might affect their fertility. We understand this and strive to provide our patients with up-to-the-minute information.

Throughout treatment, our patients enjoy a personal relationship with the physician in charge of their care as well as the other Fertility Center physicians on their team. At your first appointment, we review your medical history, discuss the most appropriate treatment options and develop your personalized treatment plan.

Our doctors work tirelessly to create a plan that works for each patient. Our consultations are thorough, direct and designed to help patients make the best decision for their individual situations. We recognize that not every patient will choose to use our services, but we aim to provide all the information necessary to make an informed decision.

All of our work is done in one self-contained suite. When necessary, we can call on the expertise of other physicians—urologists, embryologists, obstetricians/gynecologists and others—throughout Mass General.

Support Services

At the Fertility Center, we help guide patients in making decisions that will impact the rest of their lives. While our doctors address physical concerns, we also recognize that fertility treatments have a significant emotional component as well. Our patients have open access to our staff social worker along with financial services personnel who can help plan a course of action that makes sense for everyone.

About This Program During cryopreservation, cells—such as eggs, sperm or human embryos—are cooled to low sub-zero temperatures (typically 77 K or −196°C) to obtain suspended animation. The cryopreservation of sperm and of embryos has been offered for decades. However, cryopreservation of the human egg is a recent development, and novel research at Mass General continues to advance this technology.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as cryopreservation allows our patients to have more reproductive choices. We perform many cryopreservation treatments, including:

• Embryo cryopreservation: Freezing and preserving human embryos
• Sperm cryopreservation: Freezing and preserving human sperm
• Ovum cryopreservation: Freezing and preserving the human egg (egg banking)

Training for Tomorrow

The Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Fellowship Training Program prepares future leaders in our field. In this highly competitive fellowship program, fellows work side by side with our physicians and scientists, contributing to important advances in clinical care and fertility research.

For more information on our fellowship program, please call 617-726-6942.

The links below provide more information about conditions and diseases that might be treated within this program.

Infertility

Infertility is defined by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) as a disease of the reproductive system that impairs the body's ability to perform the basic function of reproduction.

Pregnancy

A pregnancy is divided into three phases, called trimesters. Each trimester has its own significant milestones.

The following related clinical trials and research studies are currently seeking participants at Massachusetts General Hospital. Search for clinical trials and studies in another area of interest.

Fertility Center

Phone: 617-726-8868
Fax: 617-724-8882

Other Locations

Mass General/North Shore Center for Outpatient Care
104 Endicott Street, Suite 304
Danvers, MA 01923
Phone: 978-882-6767
Specialist voicemail: 978-825-6221
Fax: 978-882-6775