Common questions and answers to help you make a decision

Egg freezing is a true revolution in the field of human reproduction. It is a major step forward in quest of reproductive freedom for women. Having the option to freeze time and save one’s eggs for future use has given women the much sought after mental peace when It comes to family planning.

Reasons for delaying the start of a family

Delaying childbearing has become a strong trend worldwide, mainly due to higher education and training reasons for many women, as well as career related decisions. Postponing childbearing for a later day, however, results in an age related drop in the number and quality of eggs, especially after the age of 35.

Why consider freezing your eggs?

Your fertility can be at risk either because of age-related changes in the ovaries, or because of certain medical conditions that may affect the number and the quality of eggs, such as endometriosis, or certain medical treatments for cancer. Egg freezing allows you to deal with these issues effectively and gives you the freedom to better plan your family making.

How effective is egg freezing?

The technology that has been a true revolution in egg freezing is called vitrification, an extra rapid technique of freezing without the the risk of ice crystal formation in the egg. Survival rates of eggs that have been frozen with this method is about 90%, depending on the IVF lab’s experience and expertise as well.

Is egg freezing considered an experimental procedure?

No, egg freezing is a standard procedure in the field of assisted reproduction and not considered experimental, as confirmed by various medical bodies, including the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, back in 2014.

Does egg freezing cause chromosomal abnormalities?

No, there are studies that have looked specifically at rates of chromosome abnormalities in eggs following vitrification and no differences have been found.

Which are the key factors that determine a successful outcome in egg freezing?

Age at time of freezing is the first factor to consider, as the younger you freeze your eggs, the more effective this will be. Then, the number of stored eggs is also important, as the more eggs you collect the higher the chance at least one of them implanting and starting a pregnancy following fertilization with IVF.

Can advances in assisted reproduction technologies make up fully for the natural decline in fertility with age?

Despite great advances in medical treatments and IVF laboratory methods, assisted reproduction technologies have certain limitations bringing results, mainly due to age related effects on the number and quality of eggs.

When is the best age to have your eggs frozen?

For egg freezing to be effective it is best having this before the age of 36, when the ovaries are still in good condition and the number of stored eggs adequate to provide good success rates in future use.

How likely is it to use my frozen eggs in future?

At present, only a small number of women have come back to use their frozen eggs. This is mainly due to short time passed between the act of freezing and the present moment. Also, having frozen your eggs does not mean you abandon trying to get pregnant on your own in the meantime, provided conditions are right for you.

What is the success rate getting pregnant when I come back to use my frozen eggs through IVF?

Success rates depend mainly on age of freezing and number of eggs frozen at the time. Fertilization rates following ICSI in the IVF lab range between 70-80%. Implantation rates and pregnancy rates range from 30-50% per embryo transfer, according to individual characteristics and the lab’s performance.

Are there any complications associated with the medical procedure of egg freezing?

Ovarian stimulation with hormonal treatment is necessary to provide an adequate number of eggs, followed by egg collection, a short outpatient surgical procedure for retrieving the eggs developed in the ovaries. The procedure is very safe and well tolerated by the majority of women. Rarely complications may occur, such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, or surgical complications, such as bleeding, infection, or abdominal pain.

©2021, Nicholas Christoforidis, Fertility Matters
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