For various reasons — economic, career-related, or personal — some individuals may choose to delay having children but wish to preserve the option for the future. In such cases, both men and women should consider fertility preservation. Unlike saving money, fertility is time-sensitive, and missed opportunities cannot be regained through effort alone.

Egg Freezing: What It Is

Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) involves preserving eggs at low temperatures for future use. This does not mean depleting the ovaries of their egg reserve; rather, it involves collecting and freezing the eggs that would naturally be consumed in a given menstrual cycle, without affecting the overall ovarian reserve.

The process of egg freezing allows women to store their eggs at a low temperature. When they are ready to have children, the frozen eggs can be thawed, fertilized to form embryos, and then transferred to the uterus.

The Egg Freezing Process:

  1. Ovarian Stimulation (Ovulation Induction)
  2. Egg Retrieval (Oocyte Collection)
  3. Egg Freezing (Laboratory Cryopreservation)

In each menstrual cycle, a group of eggs begins to mature within ovarian follicles. Typically, only one egg reaches full maturity and is released, while the others degenerate. Ovarian stimulation, a part of egg freezing or IVF, involves medications that encourage all of these developing eggs to mature, preventing their natural degeneration.

Ovarian Stimulation:

  • Medication is used for 10-12 days to stimulate the ovaries. The medications are usually administered via subcutaneous injections, which can be self-administered. During this period, blood tests and ultrasounds are conducted to monitor hormone levels, follicle size, and endometrial thickness.
  • It’s important to note that the stimulated follicles in the current cycle would have grown or disappeared naturally. The stimulation process mimics the body’s natural cycle, encouraging the growth of follicles that would otherwise be lost. This does not affect future egg supply or cause early menopause, so there’s no need for concern.

Egg Retrieval:

  • The egg retrieval procedure is typically performed under sedation and pain relief, so the patient feels no discomfort. The procedure takes about 10-20 minutes, and most patients can go home within 1-2 hours. However, it is advised not to drive due to the effects of anesthesia, which may cause drowsiness.
  • The procedure is guided by ultrasound, using a thin needle inserted through the vaginal wall to aspirate the follicular fluid and eggs. This method leaves no incisions or scars.
  • The retrieved eggs are immediately handed over to laboratory specialists, who identify mature eggs suitable for freezing. The eggs are then carefully cleaned and frozen using the vitrification method (a rapid freezing process).
  • Immature eggs cannot be frozen because there is currently no reliable method for maturing them outside the body.

Using Frozen Eggs:

When the individual is ready to conceive, the frozen eggs are thawed by removing them from the cryoprotectant solution and quickly warming them to 37°C. After a brief recovery period, the eggs can be fertilized using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The fertilized eggs become embryos, which can then be transferred to the uterus.

Who Should Consider Egg Freezing?

  • Women who are not ready to have children now but wish to preserve the possibility for the future.
  • Women concerned about their declining fertility.
  • Women at risk of ovarian damage due to medical treatments, such as cancer therapy.
  • Consulting with a reproductive specialist to assess ovarian function can help determine if egg freezing is necessary. Fertility declines with age, so it is recommended to freeze eggs before the age of 35. Freezing eggs after age 40 may be less effective.

Alternatives to Egg Freezing:

If egg freezing is not a suitable option, consider:

  • Having children earlier.
  • Using donated eggs.
  • Ovarian Tissue Freezing: A newer technique that involves freezing a portion of ovarian tissue. This tissue can later be reimplanted into the pelvis to potentially produce mature eggs and facilitate pregnancy.