What is egg freezing?
Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a medical procedure in which a woman’s eggs are collected, frozen, and stored for later use. It is a fertility preservation technique that allows women to delay childbirth until they are ready or when they face medical conditions that could affect their fertility.
The process of egg freezing involves stimulating the ovaries with hormones to produce multiple eggs. These eggs are then retrieved through a minor surgical procedure called follicular aspiration. The eggs are then flash frozen through vitrification, which preserves them by freezing them quickly to prevent the formation of ice crystals. The frozen eggs are then stored in a cryogenic freezer at -196 degrees Celsius until needed.
Content
Who can benefit from egg freezing?
What is the success rate of egg freezing?
What are the risks and side effects of egg freezing?
The process involved in freezing eggs.
Risks and side effects of the egg freezing process
Who to consult for egg freezing?
People also ask
Egg freezing has gained popularity in recent years due to technological advances, changes in social attitudes toward motherhood and career choices, and the increasing age at which women are having children. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), egg freezing is no longer considered experimental and is a widely accepted method of preserving fertility.
Who can benefit from egg freezing?
Egg freezing is an option for women who want to delay childbirth until they are ready or when they face medical conditions that could affect their fertility. Some of the reasons that women may choose to freeze their eggs include the following.
Medical reasons: Women who need to undergo chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer or other medical conditions may choose to freeze their eggs before treatment begins. These treatments can damage the ovaries and reduce fertility, making it difficult or impossible to conceive naturally in the future.
Social reasons: Women who are not yet ready to start a family but want to ensure that they can have children in the future can choose to freeze their eggs. This includes women who want to focus on their careers, education, travel, or waiting for the right partner.
Age-related infertility: As women age, the quality and quantity of their eggs decrease, leading to decreased fertility. Egg freezing allows women to preserve their fertility when they are younger and have a better chance of producing healthy eggs.
LGBTQ+ couples: Egg freezing is also an option for LGBTQ+ couples who want a biological child. Women in same-sex relationships or transgender men can use frozen eggs to conceive with the help of a sperm donor.
What is the success rate of egg freezing?
The success rate of egg freezing depends on several factors, including the woman’s age when the eggs were frozen, the quality of the eggs, and the number of eggs retrieved. According to the ASRM, the chance that a frozen egg will result in a live birth ranges from 2% to 12% per egg, depending on the woman’s age when the eggs were frozen.
The best time to freeze eggs is before the age of 35, since from this age the quality and quantity of eggs decreases. Women who freeze their eggs before age 35 have a greater chance of success than those who freeze their eggs at an older age.
What are the risks and side effects of egg freezing?
Egg freezing is generally considered safe and does not cause any long-term health risks. However, like any medical procedure, there are some risks and side effects associated with egg freezing. These include:
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS): Hormones used to stimulate the ovaries can cause OHSS, a condition in which the ovaries become swollen and painful. In rare cases, OHSS can lead to more serious complications, such as blood clots, kidney failure, and respiratory distress.
Multiple pregnancy: Using multiple eggs during IVF treatment can increase the chances of multiple pregnancies, which can be risky for both the mother and the babies.
Emotional and Psychological Effects: Egg freezing can be emotionally and psychologically challenging. It can cause stress, anxiety and depression in some women, especially if they face unexpected challenges or have difficulty conceiving later.
Cost: Egg freezing can be expensive and may not be covered by insurance. Women may also have to pay storage fees and fertility treatments later.
Despite these risks and challenges, many women find egg freezing a valuable option to preserve their fertility and have the option to conceive later in life.
The Process Involved in Egg Freezing
The egg freezing process involves several steps, including ovarian stimulation and monitoring, egg retrieval, and egg freezing.
Ovarian stimulation and monitoring
The first step in the egg freezing process is ovarian stimulation. First, the woman is given hormones to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. This is done through injections of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) over a period of about two weeks.
During this time, the woman’s response to hormones is closely monitored using blood tests and ultrasounds to ensure that the ovaries produce multiple mature eggs. The dose of hormones can be adjusted based on the woman’s response to treatment.
Egg retrieval
Once the eggs have reached the proper size and maturity, the woman undergoes an egg retrieval procedure. This is a minor surgical procedure that is performed under sedation or general anesthesia.
During the procedure, a small, ultrasound-guided needle is inserted through the vagina and into each ovary to retrieve the eggs. Eggs are collected in a test tube and immediately placed in a sterile container for transport to the laboratory.
Egg freezing
The collected eggs are then frozen using a process called vitrification. This involves quickly freezing the eggs to prevent the formation of ice crystals, which could damage them. The eggs are placed in a special solution and stored in a cryogenic freezer at a temperature of -196 degrees Celsius until needed.
The egg freezing process usually takes between two and three weeks, from the beginning of ovarian stimulation to the completion of egg retrieval and freezing.
Ovarian stimulation and monitoring.
The first step in the egg freezing process is ovarian stimulation. First, the woman is given hormones to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. This is done through injections of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) over a period of about two weeks.
During this time, the woman’s response to hormones is closely monitored using blood tests and ultrasounds to ensure that the ovaries produce multiple mature eggs. The dose of hormones can be adjusted depending on the woman’s response to treatment.
egg retrieval
Once the eggs have reached the proper size and maturity, the woman undergoes an egg retrieval procedure. This is a minor surgical procedure that is performed under sedation or general anesthesia.
During the procedure, a small, ultrasound-guided needle is inserted through the vagina and into each ovary to retrieve the eggs. The eggs are collected into a test tube and immediately placed in a sterile container for transport to the laboratory.
Egg freezing
The collected eggs are then frozen using a process called vitrification. It involves freezing the eggs quickly to prevent the formation of ice crystals, which could damage them. The eggs are placed in a special solution and stored in a cryogenic freezer at a temperature of -196 degrees Celsius until needed.
The egg freezing process usually takes between two and three weeks, from the beginning of ovarian stimulation to the completion of egg retrieval and freezing.
