Are you thinking about freezing your eggs? Are you worried about your whole biological clock tickling? Are you having less time and energy to focus on having kids? Then ‘’Egg freezing’’- oocyte cryopreservation is your solution.
Egg Freezing
General Information
What is Egg Freezing?
Egg freezing is the process of preserving women’s egg by retrieving some of them from her ovaries, freezing them and storing them so they can be used when she decides she would like to get pregnant. Egg freezing has advanced greatly over the past few years, with the improved overall success of eggs surviving the freezing process. It is a tried and tested process with a lot of successful cases.
Why do women freeze their eggs?
The reasons for freezing their eggs can be many. But mainly, women opt to freeze their eggs because they want to have a baby in future but, because of current careers, relationship problems, or personal choice need to postpone childbearing. Women can decide to freeze their eggs if they know their fertility may decline with age.
‘’Fertility begins to decrease naturally around age 30, and more quickly each year or two after 35’’.
What age is recommended for a woman to freeze her eggs if interested?
The ideal age is before 35. However, the average age at which women freeze their egg is around 37. The younger you are when you freeze your eggs, the greater your odds of getting pregnant. Women intending to delay childbearing can consider egg freezing, also women that cannot choose to store frozen embryos because of moral or religious reasons can consider egg freezing.
‘’Egg freezing works best for women in their 20s and 30s and is not recommended for women over 38’’.
‘’ The women who are getting treatment for cancer can go for egg freezing’’.
How long can the eggs remain frozen?
Once eggs have been vitrified, they do not become spoiled with time. They remain in precisely the same state as they were at the time when they were vitrified.
How many eggs should a woman need to store to achieve a pregnancy?
Most of the women whose age is thirty-eight or less can expect to harvest 10 to 20 eggs per cycle.
How much does egg freezing cost?
The cost of egg freezing relies on how many eggs a woman wants to freeze and how many cycles of egg freezing it will take to achieve the goal number of eggs. A single cycle of egg freezing starts at about $4000, to $10,000. Some women may need to undergo multiple rounds, paying double that price. Egg freezing cost in India – It costs around Rs 50,000 to 2 lakhs.
Note- If you want to move forward with egg freezing but the cost is a barrier, talk to your doctor and know about the possible options for lowering the total cost of the procedure.
Process of Egg Freezing
The first step is ovarian stimulation. In this step fertility medications are given, which stimulates the ovaries. These hormones will cause ovulation ‘‘on-demand'' and will vitalize the ovaries to release multiple eggs, during ovarian stimulation you will be monitored with scans to see how the eggs are maturing. Once ovulation is triggered, you will pay a visit to the fertility clinic for egg retrieval. This is a simple process, which is performed under light sedation, so you will not feel any pain. Immediately after the retrieval, your eggs are taken to the laboratory, where they are instantly cooled to subzero temperatures. Egg freezing is done using either a slow-freeze or flash-freeze (vitrification) method.
Why freeze earlier?
If you freeze during your twenties your eggs will be in prime condition and the egg count will be high, meaning you are likely to get more high-quality eggs for freezing from one cycle. Also, if you freeze your eggs early, there will be higher chances of a healthy baby, as using younger eggs helps to reduce any risks. Age is an important factor in determining the success rate of egg freezing.
‘’By freezing your eggs you take charge of your fertility’’.
The Quality of egg freezing is dependent on the Centre you go to
The success of egg freezing technique is dependent on the ability of the protocol applied to: minimize damage to the cells structures during the substitution of the egg’s free-water for the cryoprotectant, avoid ice crystal formation during cooling and ensuring the cryoprotectant does not poison the cells.
These outcomes are within the control of the people running your fertility clinic's lab and so their success rates are mainly a function of their quality management, systems, equipment, training, skill sets, so keep in mind when choosing your clinic.
These outcomes are within the control of the people running your fertility clinic's lab and so their success rates are mainly a function of their quality management, systems, equipment, training, skill sets, so keep in mind when choosing your clinic.
Side effects of Egg Freezing: Minor side effects such as headaches, insomnia, breast tenderness, mood swings, hot/cold flashes.
‘’Most women don’t experience any of these freezing side effects and those they do experience are minor and short-lived’’.
Note- Every woman who freezes her eggs is carefully monitored throughout the process, so if any signs of developing serious egg freezing side effects are visible, the doctor will take immediate steps to prevent them.
About IVF Spring Center
IVF Spring Fertility Centre is one of the leading infertility clinics in Mumbai, India. For years IVF Spring Clinic has helped thousands of patients conceive successful pregnancies and with egg freezing process, we make sure to help you achieve pregnancy when you are ready! Have more questions? Check out our website for more fertility-related blogs and get in touch with us now, you can also contact us.
Egg Freezing related FAQs
What is egg freezing?
Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a process in which a woman's eggs are harvested and frozen for future use.
Who should consider egg freezing?
Women who wish to delay pregnancy due to personal or medical reasons may consider egg freezing.
How is egg freezing performed?
The process involves stimulating the ovaries with hormones to produce multiple eggs, which are then retrieved via a minimally invasive procedure and frozen for future use.
How long can eggs be frozen?
Eggs can be safely frozen for many years, with some studies suggesting up to 10 years or more.
Is egg freezing guaranteed to work?
There is no guarantee that egg freezing will result in a successful pregnancy, but the chances of success depend on factors such as the age of the woman at the time of freezing and the number of eggs retrieved.
What are the risks associated with egg freezing?
The risks of egg freezing include the potential side effects of the hormonal stimulation process, as well as the risk of complications during the egg retrieval procedure.
How much does egg freezing cost?
The cost of egg freezing can vary widely depending on the location and specific clinic, but typically ranges from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars.
Is egg freezing covered by insurance?
Some insurance plans may cover the cost of egg freezing for medical reasons, but coverage can vary widely. It is important to check with your provider to understand your coverage.
Can egg freezing affect future fertility?
There is no evidence to suggest that egg freezing has a negative impact on future fertility, but the chances of success may decrease with age.
How do I get started with egg freezing?
Women interested in egg freezing should speak with a fertility specialist to discuss the process, risks, and potential benefits, as well as to develop an individualized plan for their specific needs.