Chapter 16 Directional Freezing of Ovarian Tissue and Freeze-Drying of Stem Cells for Fertility Preservation

Abstract

Fertility preservation is practiced today for women in their fertile years who wish or need to postpone or prolong their reproductive era. Currently women have two main options to preserve their fertility either by oocyte vitrification or by freezing of ovarian cortical slices. In this chapter we will describe the use of directional freezing for cortical slices and freeze-drying of stem cells. These procedures open the way for the preservation of reproductive cells and tissue for future use in fertility preservation treatments.

Keywords: Cortical slices; Cryopreservation; Directional freezing; Fertility preservation; Freeze-drying; Freezing; Ovary; Stem cells.