What is Egg Freezing? Oocyte cryopreservation is the method of extracting eggs from the ovaries. The woman can use the eggs for future use or whenever they are ready to have a baby. The entire procedure involves extracting, freezing, and storing to preserve the potentiality in women of reproductive age. Egg cryopreservation is also linked with egg donation. In this procedure, a donor gives eggs for someone else to use during fertility treatments.
What is the Egg Freezing Process
The process of egg (oocyte) freezing is similar to IVF (In Vitro Fertilization). However, there’s a small difference. After the egg retrieval procedure, egg storing is done rather than fertilising them.
- Self-injection The person has to self-inject 2 to 3 hormone medications for every 10-12 days. This helps a group of eggs grow at the same time.
- Tracking For tracking the egg development process, tracking is important. It includes 4-6 pelvic ultrasounds and routine bloodwork.
- Retrieval After the maturing of eggs, an ultrasound guided surgical process is done for the retrieval of eggs. The outpatient process takes 20-30 minutes under anesthesia.
- Eggs Verification A person trained to examine embryos and eggs will examine whether the eggs are matured or not. An embryologist will thoroughly examine the potentiality of the eggs to become fertilized.
Storing of Eggs
After egg harvesting, the doctor will start the process of vitrification. This is the method of quickly putting the eggs to deep freeze. In an embryology lab, the egg storing process is done in a liquid nitrogen tank.
How to use frozen eggs to conceive?
After the procedure of freezing the eggs, your eggs will be frozen until you are ready to have a baby. What is egg freezing procedure to conceive? Here are the steps to understand the process properly:
- The first step is thawing the eggs. Once the eggs are out, an embryologist will start examining to confirm whether the eggs are yours.
- The next step involves thawing the eggs gently using a warming solution.
- The next step is to fertilize every thawed egg with sperm. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) might be used to increase the chances of successful fertilisation.
- The embryologist will examine the fertilized eggs for development for several days.
- Finally, your doctor will perform an embryo transfer process. This involves using a catheter and a speculum. It will contain the embryo through the cervix and vagina to reach the womb.
Who can consider doing egg freezing?
What is egg freezing and who should consider doing it? There are multiple reasons for freezing of the eggs which includes the following considerations:
- Surgeries that may affect or damage the ovaries.
- Women who need pelvic radiation therapy or chemotherapy that might affect their fertility.
- Ovarian disease that has a risk of damage to the ovaries.
- Chances of premature ovarian failure. Chromosomal abnormalities, early menopause, or a family history can be the reasons.
- Fertility preservation for personal or social reasons to slow down childbearing.
- Genetic mutations that may require removing the ovaries.
What age is best to freeze eggs?
In India, the maximum age limit for women to freeze their eggs is 45 years. However, doctors recommend freezing the eggs before the age of 40 for a better success rate. Oocyte freezing at a younger age typically has better outcomes. There are higher chances for younger eggs to produce a healthy baby for the future.
Minimum age limit for egg or oocyte freezing
On the other hand, the minimum age limit for women to freeze their eggs is 18 years. However, healthcare professionals recommend women to freeze eggs in their mid-20s to early 30s for higher success rates. It is rare for a 18 year old to freeze eggs unless there are some serious health conditions.
How much does egg freezing cost?
What is Egg freezing and its cost? The cost can vary depending on the clinic and where you are located. Since fertility centre fees and insurance coverage varies, it’s best to talk with your doctor. Additionally, you can have a talk with your health insurance company about the total expenses. However, if you have a serious health issue or a cancer diagnosis that can affect your fertility, you might get more financial coverage.
Generally the total cost covers the following points:
- Ultrasounds
- Medications
- Bloodwork
- Oocyte freezing procedure
- Egg retrieval process
- An annual frozen egg storage fees
Side effects of egg freezing
Generally oocyte cryopreservation is considered effective and safe. However, there are some side effects that one should keep in mind while going through this procedure. Below are some of the side effects of oocyte freezing, including:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Mild bruising and soreness at the injection area
- Increased vaginal discharge and breast tenderness
- Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
- Fatigue and mood swings
- Allergic reactions such as itching or skin reddening at the injection area
- Breathing issues
- Painful urination
Note: There is no scientific evidence that oocyte cryopreservation increases the risk of cancer. The hormones to stimulate the ovaries to develop eggs for freezing are the same to those used in fertility treatments.
Final line
Egg freezing is the best way for a woman if she wants to delay having a baby until the right time. If you’re thinking of freezing eggs then it’s important to know the procedure, age limit, side effects, and cost. However, if you have any doubts or questions, it’s best to consult with your healthcare provider. They will help you with personalized advice based on your health history. You can also consult with our fertility specialist, Dr. Rita Bakshi at Risaa IVF.
FAQs
Q 1. Can you get pregnant after egg freezing?
Answer. Yes, there’s a possibility of getting pregnant after freezing your eggs.
Q 2. Will I get periods if I freeze my eggs?
Answer. Freezing your eggs doesn’t stop periods. It doesn’t also have any long term effects other than the loss of some eggs.
Q 3. Is egg retrieval painful?
Answer. Egg retrieval is a virtually tolerable procedure. However, there can be some side effects that can differ from person to person.
Q 4. Can I freeze my eggs if I am virgin?
Answer. Yes, a person’s virginity status doesn’t get affected by the procedure of freezing eggs.