What is Egg Freezing?

Egg Freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is one of the most common methods for preserving female fertility, offering you the option of having babies in the future.

The Process

Medical Consultation and Diagnostics

Speaking to a fertility specialist is key in understanding your own specific situation and chances. The specialist will take down your medical history, check if there are any underlying issues that may affect your egg freezing journey, and perform diagnostic tests to give you realistic expectations of your chances. These diagnostic tests are usually a blood test to check your Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) levels and an ultrasound scan to check your Antral Follicle Count (AFC) to assess how many eggs you have in your ovaries (your ovarian reserve).

Ovarian Stimulation

Medication is then administered to stimulate the ovaries, boosting follicle (the sacs containing eggs in the ovaries) growth and maturation over a period of about 10 to 14 days.

Egg Collection

Once your follicles grow to a big enough size, a minor procedure is performed to collect them. You’ll be under light sedation or general anesthesia to prevent you from feeling any pain. A thin needle is used to gently reach the ovaries through the vaginal wall to gather the eggs from the follicles in the ovaries.

Freezing and Storage

The collected eggs are then assessed for maturation and quality by the embryologist in the lab. Most clinics usually only freeze mature eggs. Mature eggs are eggs that have completed their development and are viable to be fertilized. The eggs are then frozen using a method called vitrification. This rapid cooling process prevents ice crystals from forming, keeping your eggs safe and ready for future use. They are then stored in liquid nitrogen (in temperatures as low as -197 degrees Celsius). In the UK, you can store eggs for up to 10 years (with extensions possible up to 55 years in total, with storage renewed every 10 years).

Thawing and Use

The eggs can be thawed when you are ready to use them, providing a future opportunity for pregnancy.

Who Should Consider Egg Freezing?

Personal Circumstances

As women age, the quality and quantity of their eggs decline. For women who are not ready to start a family due to career, education, or personal reasons, egg freezing is a proactive choice for those who wish to delay pregnancy.

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Medical Conditions

Women undergoing treatments that might affect egg quality and count, such as chemotherapy for cancer or treatment for autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, may benefit from egg freezing.

Learn more about the impact of medical treatments on fertility.

Transgender Individuals

This treatment can also help female-to-male transgender individuals preserve their fertility before starting hormonal therapy and the transitioning process.

Research Behind It

As techniques and procedures in fertility preservation evolve, it's crucial to investigate and research their safety and efficacy to ensure the best outcomes for patients during this process.

How Safe Is It?

Research indicates that similar to IVF, the safety of egg freezing is promising. Data available from cohort studies and case studies have shown that egg freezing is a relatively safe procedure. Although, similar to most medical interventions, there are potential side effects. One notable risk is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a severe reaction to fertility drugs.

For more detailed information, refer to this study on the safety of egg freezing.

Success Rates

A retrospective cohort study conducted from January 2016 to March 2022 analyzed outcomes for women who underwent egg freezing. The study emphasizes that the success of achieving a live birth is significantly influenced by the age of the woman at the time of egg retrieval, with younger women showing higher success rates.

Read the study here.

Overall, the research indicates that while egg freezing can be an effective method for preserving fertility, its success depends heavily on the woman's age at the time of freezing and the number of eggs retrieved. Women who freeze their eggs before age 40 generally have a higher likelihood of achieving pregnancy later.

MyFertility’s Take

At MyFertility, we advise those considering egg freezing to be aware of the potential risks and benefits. The biggest risk is that the treatment may not work, as the success of an IVF cycle can depend on various factors. Factors influencing success include the woman's age at the time of freezing, the number of eggs retrieved, and the method used for freezing. Generally, women who freeze their eggs before age 40 have a higher likelihood of achieving pregnancy later. We recommend using our clinic finder to search for clinics that meet your criteria for egg freezing, whether it’s cost, location, or available services and technologies. Data on success rates specific to egg freezing is very difficult to obtain and unreliable due to the fact that a small number of patients who have frozen their eggs have actually gone back to use them (it’s estimated that this number is at 4%), so we recommend looking at the clinic’s success rates metrics for fresh cycles as a guide.

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Women considering this option should be thoroughly counseled about the potential outcomes and the importance of timing in relation to their reproductive goals. We are here to support and guide you through every step of the process, ensuring you have all the information you need to make an informed decision about your fertility future. You can use MyFertility’s clinic matcher to find the right clinic for you, or simply browse clinics.

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