What is vitrification for IVF?
The actual scientific definition of vitrification is the process of converting something into a glass-like solid that is free of any crystal formation. Translated into embryology, vitrification is the use of an ultra-rapid embryo freezing process versus the traditional slow freezing process. The most difficult part of freezing any cellular tissue such as embryos or eggs is that the water content within the cells from ice crystals during the freezing process which are very detrimental to the health of the cells. With the vitrification process, the addition of a cryoprotectant (similar to antifreeze in car’s radiator), allows water to be cooled until it hardens like glass without any ice crystals forming. This is important in the embryology world because ice crystal formation can be very damaging to frozen embryos (or other frozen cells). Therefore, vitrification in IVF can allow freezing of spare embryos (and eggs) with better post-thaw survival rates and higher pregnancy and live birth
