Egg Freezing:Is It the Right Choice for You?

Many women are choosing egg freezing as a way to pause their biological clocks and preserve their ability to have children later in life. 

This helps them ease off the burden and worries about the unstoppable ticking of their most fertile years. 

The growing popularity of egg freezing shows the rising appeal in those wanting greater control over their reproductive timelines.

But is it for you? Read on to find out.

What is egg freezing?

Egg freezing—or oocyte cryopreservation—involves reserving eggs for use in the future when the individual is mentally, physically, and emotionally ready to conceive. 

This process starts with hormone treatments to stimulate egg production. It’s then followed by retrieving and storing the eggs in a specialized lab. Once frozen, these eggs stay viable for many years, waiting for when they might be needed.

What are the steps involved in the egg-freezing process?

The process of egg freezing includes multiple steps, each critical for preserving the eggs’ health and viability.

1. Initial Medical Assessment

The very first step is a visit to a fertility clinic, where a reproductive specialist evaluates the patient’s health. 

This initial assessment includes: 

• blood tests to review hormone levels
• ovarian reserve testing
• an ultrasound to assess the ovaries 

These examinations help the fertility specialist determine how many eggs are likely to be retrieved. It will go on to guide the rest of the process. 

The results of these tests will let the doctor design a personalized plan for hormone stimulation to maximize egg retrieval.

2. Hormonal Stimulation

The egg retrieval part involves stimulating the ovaries to produce multiple eggs rather than the single egg released in a normal menstrual cycle. 

In this phase, the patient takes daily hormone injections for about 8 to 14 days. These medications then stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, increasing the likelihood of a successful retrieval. 

During this period, frequent monitoring is carried out through blood tests and ultrasounds to monitor the ovaries’ response to the medication. 

Once the eggs reach maturity, a final hormone injection triggers them to complete their maturation and prepare for retrieval.

3. Egg Retrieval Procedure

The egg retrieval process is brief but precise. The patient receives light sedation for their comfort, and a specialized needle that’s guided by ultrasound is used to retrieve the eggs through the vaginal wall. 

The procedure may take only 15 to 20 minutes, and the best part is that there are no incisions or stitches. After retrieval, the eggs are sent to a laboratory for evaluation. 

Only mature eggs proceed to the next stage, as they have the highest chance of surviving the freezing and thawing process.

4. Freezing and Storage

Once retrieved, the mature eggs undergo a freezing process known as vitrification. To protect the eggs, specialists treat them with cryoprotectants, which prevent ice crystals from forming. 

The eggs then undergo rapid freezing using liquid nitrogen. This method has proven useful in keeping eggs viable for many years. 

The eggs are stored in sub-zero tanks, where they remain until there’s a need to use them.

5. Post-Procedure Recovery

After the egg retrieval step, some patients may experience minor cramping, bloating, or light spotting. 

These side effects usually go away within a day. Most people can return to their normal activities, including work, by the following day. 

What’s the timeline for the egg-freezing process?

The entire egg-freezing process—from hormone injections to egg retrieval—normally takes two to three weeks. This timeframe is recommended for people with limited availability who want to complete the process relatively quickly. 

Some individuals may need an accelerated process if they face immediate medical treatments, such as chemotherapy for cancer. For those cases, egg freezing can be expedited, and the eggs can be retrieved and preserved in as little as two weeks.

What happens when you’re ready to use your eggs?

If you’ve decided to use the frozen eggs, you’ll begin a process that involves thawing them and fertilizing them with sperm from either a partner or a donor. 

This fertilization creates the embryos, which develop over five to six days in a laboratory setting. Once the embryos reach a viable stage, one or more are transferred to the uterus through a minor procedure. 

At the time of the transfer, the doctor uses a speculum to access the uterus and, using the ultrasound as a guide, places the embryo using a flexible catheter. If you’ve had a pap smear test before, the process will feel similar, and there’s no need for sedation.

How long can frozen eggs remain viable?

Frozen eggs can stay feasible for as long as necessary where credit is due to the vitrification technology. 

Most people use frozen eggs within three to ten years, but eggs stay biologically stable and viable even outside of that timeframe. 

Should individuals decide not to use their eggs, they have some options: 

• the eggs can be discarded 
• they can be donated to research 
• they may be provided to another couple in need

How many eggs should you freeze?

In the best circumstance, the more eggs that can be retrieved and frozen, the higher the chances of successful fertilization and pregnancy later. However, the number of eggs a person can freeze will depend on their ovarian reserve, age, and other health factors. 

The typical retrieval returns between 10 and 12 eggs, but not all of these may survive the entire progress to pregnancy. 

The following scenarios are possible:

• some eggs may not survive the thawing process 
• some may not fertilize correctly 
• some fertilized eggs may not implant successfully 

Some people undergo multiple egg retrieval cycles, storing a higher number of eggs for prospective use to improve their chances.

Are there age considerations for egg freezing?

Age may play a major part in egg quality and fertility. For those thinking of egg freezing, the suitable time is between the ages of 30 and 34, although many clinics will work with patients younger or older. 

This recommendation is based on the natural drop in the number and quality of eggs over time. Women are born with one to two million potential eggs, but this number decreases sharply throughout life. 

By age 25, only about 300,000 egg cells remain, and the decline picks up speed after 35. Freezing eggs during the optimal age range increases the odds of successful fertilization and pregnancy in the future.

Which medical conditions make egg freezing a solid consideration?

There are specific scenarios where egg freezing becomes a practical choice. For example, a person diagnosed with cancer may wish to freeze their eggs before undergoing treatments like chemotherapy or radiation, as these may affect fertility. 

Similarly, those diagnosed with conditions like premature ovarian failure might consider egg freezing to maintain reproductive options. 

Apart from these medical cases, those who want to wait to start a family or haven’t yet found a suitable partner may also turn to egg freezing to keep their future options open.

Are there any limitations?

Egg freezing is a valuable option for preserving fertility, but it doesn’t guarantee pregnancy. Challenges can come up at each stage of this process. 

Abnormalities can occur in the developing embryos, and there’s always a risk that an embryo may not implant successfully. Even in cases where implantation succeeds, the chances of miscarriage remain, as with any pregnancy. 

Recognizing these limitations is important. It can help those considering egg freezing make educated decisions about their future.

Are there emotional considerations you should know about?

The egg-freezing process continues to advance but remains relatively straightforward and low-risk. 

Yet egg freezing is an intensely emotional process – especially for single women, who comprise most participants. 

Most report feeling a mix of empowerment and vulnerability, facing hormonal effects, isolation, and social stigma. Strong support networks can help ease the process. 

Sometimes, people prefer to get specialized counseling to manage their ongoing anxieties and uncertainties about future fertility outcomes.

How can Adore Fertility help?

Adore Fertility provides specialized fertility services led by Dr. Jeris Cox, a seasoned expert in reproductive medicine. The clinic is uniquely positioned as a female-owned, boutique fertility center that emphasizes personalized and cost-effective fertility treatments. 

We extend a thorough range of reproductive services, including IVF, ovulation induction, IUI, and fertility preservation. With a strong focus on patient-centered care, we work toward making advanced fertility options accessible and affordable.

Egg freezing gives you reassurance and flexibility for the future. It opens up possibilities for those looking for more control over their fertility timeline. 

If you’re interested in learning more, contact us to discuss your options with compassionate professionals who can guide you through each step of preserving your reproductive choices. Find out more about egg preservation here.