Egg Freezing Unveiled: Your Ultimate Guide to Preserving Fertility
Discover the ins and outs of egg freezing with "Egg Freezing Unveiled: Your Ultimate Guide to Preserving Fertility." Learn about the benefits, process, and costs of preserving your fertility for future family planning. Empower yourself with expert advice and make informed decisions about your reproductive journey.
1) Introduction to Egg Freezing
Hello there, readers! Today,
we'll dig into the intriguing area of egg freezing, a technological miracle
that has transformed reproductive health. This procedure, also known as oocyte
cryopreservation, has given women additional options for preserving their
fertility for future use. Let us go deeper into this subject.
Egg freezing, also known as
oocyte cryopreservation, is the technique of extracting, freezing, and storing
a woman's eggs (oocytes). This approach is used to preserve fertility in women
of reproductive age. The first human birth from a frozen oocyte was recorded in
1986, and the technology has evolved significantly since then, with higher
success percentages of eggs surviving the freezing process.
A woman may contemplate freezing
her eggs for a variety of reasons, including:
i) Career considerations:
Some women may opt to postpone childbearing in order to concentrate on their
jobs.
ii) Future planning: Women
who are not ready to have children now but believe they will be in the future
may choose egg freezing.
iii) Medical problems:
Because some medical illnesses or therapies might interfere with fertility, egg
freezing may be a potential alternative.
iv) Early menopause: Women
with a family history of early menopause should consider egg freezing.
v) Ethical or religious
concerns: Egg freezing may be an alternative for those who are religiously
or ethically opposed to the practice of preserving embryos.
The most prevalent reason for
freezing eggs is for security. If a woman is anxious about her ability to
conceive later in age, egg freezing might bring piece of mind.
c) Key Statistics for Egg
Freezing
Oocyte cryopreservation, commonly
known as egg freezing, is a way of preserving a woman's reproductive potential.
The success rate of egg freezing can vary greatly depending on a variety of
factors, including the woman's age at the time of egg freezing, the quantity of
eggs frozen, the freezing procedures utilized, and the laboratory's quality.
Here are some essential numbers about egg freezing:
Depending on what is assessed, egg freezing success rates
can range from 2% to 40% or more. For example, the success percentage per egg
recovered using previous freezing procedures is frequently stated as 2% to 12%.
Using modern vitrification freezing procedures, however, the success percentage
per egg recovered might range between 4% and 14%.
A woman's age at the time of egg
freezing has a major influence on success rates. Women under the age of 35, for
example, have an 80% probability of having at least one live birth if they
store 15 mature eggs. Freezing 20 mature eggs gives an 80% likelihood of at
least one live birth for women aged 35 to 37. Freezing 30 mature eggs gives a
75% likelihood of at least one live birth for women aged 38 to 40. Freezing 30
mature eggs gives a 50% likelihood of at least one live birth for women aged 40
to 42.
iii)
Total number of eggs recovered
During an IVF round, 8 to 14 eggs
are normally extracted from a woman's ovaries.
According to one research, the
live birth rate per patient is only 39%, and this rate is highly impacted by
the patient's age at the time of egg freezing.
The cost of egg freezing varies
greatly. For example, embryo freezing at PFCLA costs $9,000 for one cycle,
$16,500 for two cycles, and $22,000 for three cycles. According to a May 2018
study of costs posted on UK clinic websites, the average cost of a complete egg
freezing cycle, including storage and use of eggs in future treatment, ranges
between £7,000 and £8,000.
vi)
Number of eggs freezed based on age
A study at Extend Fertility
suggested that a woman 37 years old should freeze at least 10 eggs, a woman 38
years old should aim to freeze 16 eggs, and a woman 42 years old should aim to
freeze about 28 eggs to give her the best chance of success later when using
these eggs to get pregnant.
A study at Guy's Hospital found
that the mean egg thaw survival rate post egg thaw was 74%.
2) Preparation for Egg
Freezing
The preparation for egg freezing
typically involves the following steps:
a)
Initial Consultation and Evaluation
A fertility doctor will explain
your medical history and the egg freezing process at the initial session. They
will use a pelvic ultrasound and blood tests to assess your ovarian reserve,
which is a measure of your egg supply.
b)
Medical History and Physical Examination
Both spouses' medical histories
are thoroughly reviewed, including information about menstrual cycles, past
operations, illnesses, and pregnancies. A physical checkup is also conducted to
evaluate general health and ovarian function.
c)
Bloodwork and Fertility Hormone Testing
Hormone levels such as
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), and estradiol
are measured in blood. These tests aid in determining egg quality and quantity,
as well as the chances of a successful egg freezing cycle.
d)
Vaginal Ultrasound to Assess Antral Follicle Count
The antral follicle count, which
is the number of tiny, unstimulated egg-containing follicles within the ovary,
is determined via a transvaginal ultrasound. The number of antral follicles is
proportional to the amount of surviving eggs and the ovarian response to
ovarian stimulation.
After these stages are completed,
the egg freezing process usually takes 2-3 weeks for most patients. The procedure
entails giving fertility medicines to boost the growth and development of
numerous eggs, monitoring follicle growth, and extracting the eggs for
freezing.
3) Egg Freezing Process
The initial stage of the egg
freezing procedure is ovulation induction. It entails the use of synthetic
hormones to encourage the ovaries to generate several eggs rather than the
single egg produced per month. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Menopur®, Lupron®,
or Cetrotide® are among the hormones utilized. These drugs assist the ovaries
in producing a sufficient number of mature eggs while also avoiding early
ovulation. After roughly 8 to 14 days, the follicles are suitable for egg
harvesting. At this phase, hCG hormones or other drugs are administered to aid
in egg maturation.
When the eggs reach maturity,
they are removed from the uterus. This is a brief operation performed under
anesthesia that normally lasts 20 to 30 minutes. An ultrasound probe is
inserted into the vagina to identify follicles. The needle is then inserted
into the vagina to reach the follicle. Multiple eggs are extracted from the
follicle using a suction device linked to the needle.
After retrieving the eggs, they
are chilled to sub-zero temperatures to preserve them for future use. This is
accomplished by one of two methods: gradual freezing or vitrification.
i) Slow-freezing: A lesser
dose of cryoprotectants is used in this procedure, and the temperature of the
eggs is gradually dropped over two to three hours.
ii) Vitrification: A high
concentration of cryoprotectants is used in this procedure, and the eggs are
quickly chilled. The entire procedure takes around 15 minutes.
In an embryology lab, the eggs
are then kept in liquid nitrogen tanks. When the lady is ready to use the
frozen eggs to get pregnant, they are put in a warming solution and evaluated.
Those eggs that made it through the freezing procedure are fertilized by
intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), which involves injecting a single
sperm directly into the egg. Typically, 3-5 days following fertilization, the
fertilized eggs will develop in culture until the embryo(s) are ready to be
transplanted into the uterus to establish pregnancy.
It's vital to highlight that the
egg freezing procedure is fraught with dangers such as ovarian hyperstimulation
syndrome (OHSS), surgical problems, and emotional consequences. OHSS is
characterized by swelling, enlarged ovaries and fluid accumulation in the
abdominal cavity. For a few days after the egg retrieval, you may have
spotting, cramps, and nausea.
4) Post-Procedure Care for Egg
Freezing
It is advised that you relax at
home for the remainder of the day and have someone with you to take care for
you. This is due to the fact that the anesthesia used during the surgery may
impair your judgment and capacity to think for a brief period of time. You
should avoid driving, using machinery or tools, drinking alcohol, being
responsible for the care of another person, making significant choices, or
signing any legal papers for the following 24 hours.
It is typical to experience minor
vaginal bleeding or spotting for 1 to 2 days after the operation. Tampons
should be avoided in favor of pads or pantyliners. Some pelvic discomfort may
occur, which can be treated with 650 mg of acetaminophen (Tylenol and other
brands). Most patients recover completely within one to two days. During this
period, it is advised that you get enough of rest, drink lots of water, use a
heating pad to any uncomfortable or painful regions, and go for regular brief
walks. Avoid intense movements like heavy lifting, running, cycling, or
stationary cycling, as well as caffeinated beverages, alcohol, and eating too
much sweet food.
b)
Assessment of Retrieved Eggs
After retrieval, the eggs'
maturity is examined under a microscope. Only developed eggs are chosen for
freezing since they are the only ones that can be fertilized.
c) Freezing and
Storage of Mature Eggs
Vitification is a sort of flash
freezing in which eggs are bathed in liquid nitrogen to avoid the production of
ice crystals, which might destroy the eggs. This procedure is carried out by a
team of skilled embryologists. The eggs are kept on site before being moved to
a secure storage facility. A competent embryology lab assures appropriate
equipment operation and temperature control by using around-the-clock
monitoring systems with alerts and manual temperature checks.
There isn't enough evidence to
say whether there is a limit to how long eggs can survive in liquid nitrogen.
Pregnancies have been obtained from embryos that had been frozen for more than
ten years, thus it is expected that eggs would behave similarly if stored.
It's vital to remember that
greater mother age during pregnancy is linked to an increased risk of pregnancy
issues including high blood pressure, diabetes, and cesarean delivery. Most
clinics have an upper age limit for using these gametes to produce conception.
5) Success Rates and
Considerations for Egg Freezing
a)
Average Number of Mature Eggs Retrieved
The average number of eggs
recovered during an IVF cycle varies every woman and is determined by various
factors, including age, ovarian reserve, and the quantity of stimulation
medication used. During IVF, an average of 8 to 14 eggs are normally extracted
from a woman's ovaries.
b) Success
Rates of Live Births from Frozen Eggs
The success rate of live births
from frozen eggs is affected by the woman's age at the time of egg freezing as
well as the quantity of eggs preserved. According to a research conducted by
the NYU Langone Fertility Center, the overall likelihood of a live delivery
from frozen eggs is 39%. However, among women under the age of 38 who froze
their eggs, the live birth percentage was 51%. It increased to 70% if women
under the age of 38 additionally thawed 20 or more eggs. Another study
discovered that the chances of getting pregnant following implantation of
frozen eggs are between 30 to 60%.
c)
Factors Influencing Success Rates
Several variables impact the
success rates of frozen egg births:
i) Age at egg freezing:
Women who freeze their eggs while they are younger (preferably under 35) have a
better probability of success.
ii) Total number of frozen
eggs: More eggs frozen enhances the likelihood of a successful live
delivery.
iii) Quality of eggs: The
quality of the eggs is critical to success rates, with higher quality eggs
yielding greater results.
iv) Utilization of
preimplantation genetic screening: Screening embryos derived from frozen
and subsequently thawed eggs can result in decreased miscarriage and live birth
rates per transfer.
It is critical to understand that
not all eggs will develop into viable embryos, and not all embryos will develop
into live births. As a result, numerous eggs are often removed and stored
throughout the cryopreservation procedure.
6)
Financial Aspects for Egg Freezing
The cost of egg freezing can vary
greatly based on a number of factors, including the reproductive clinic, the
patient's health, and geography. In California, the cost of egg freezing ranges
from $6,000 to $10,000 each freezing cycle. According to some reports, the cost
of one cycle can range from $15,000 to $20,000, and in some situations, it can
reach $30,000 or more. Initial testing, medical visits, medicines and
injections, vitrification (a quick chilling process to freeze the eggs), and
egg retrieval operations are often included in this expense. It should be noted
that these expenditures do not include the yearly egg storage fees, which begin
at $600 per year.
In terms of insurance, egg
freezing is often not fully covered, however some carriers will cover some
aspects of the operation. Because most insurance companies do not consider egg
freezing to be a medical necessity, the operation and treatment are not
covered. There are, however, certain exceptions. If you have a diagnosed
reproductive problem or are going to undergo therapies that will impair your
future fertility (radiation, chemotherapy, etc.), you may be eligible for
partial or full reimbursement for your egg freezing operation. Some companies,
notably those in the technology sector, also provide coverage for egg freezing.
There are numerous ways to handle
the expense of egg freezing in terms of finance. Financing alternatives, like
as loans or payment plans, are available at certain reproductive clinics.
Future Family, for example, provides fertility treatment loans to assist with
the cost of your reproductive care, with egg freezing plans starting at $150
per month and rates as low as 0% APR. Personal savings, credit cards, 401Ks,
and bank loans are other choices. It's also worth mentioning that some larger
employer health insurance plans include reproductive services like egg
freezing.
To summarize, the cost of
freezing eggs can be extremely significant, and insurance coverage varies
widely. It's critical to do your homework and completely understand the prices
involved, as well as the coverage and financing choices accessible to you. It's
a good idea to talk with your insurance company and possible fertility clinics
to obtain a clear picture of the expenses and coverage.
7) Risks and Complications for
Egg Freezing
a) Medical Risks
Associated with Egg Freezing
The process of freezing and
storing a woman's viable eggs, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, begins
with hormonal stimulation of the ovaries, followed by transvaginal extraction
and subsequent freezing and storage of her viable eggs. The medical concerns of
egg freezing are mostly connected with ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval.
The most serious medical hazards associated with ovarian stimulation are those
associated with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).
Ovarian stimulation has been
linked to an increased risk of breast, uterine, and other malignancies.
However, cancer reports are few and contradictory, and more study is required.
Women who seek to conceive with frozen-thawed eggs will face the dangers
associated with IVF. Multiple pregnancy, pregnancy-related high blood pressure,
early delivery, surgical delivery, and low birth weight babies are among the
dangers.
b)
Potential Side Effects of Medications
The negative effects of egg
freezing drugs are often caused by the medication's hormonal changes and are
comparable to PMS symptoms such as headaches, mood swings, sleeplessness, hot
or cold flashes, breast soreness, bloating, or minor fluid retention.
Furthermore, because the majority of the drugs used in egg freezing are
administered through injection, the injection site may become painful, red, or
somewhat bruised.
The medication's adverse effects
endure just for the 8-11 days it is taken; they are not long-term. The vast
majority of women recover quickly following an egg freezing cycle.
c)
Risks of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
(OHSS) is an overreaction to hormones. It is most common in women who are using
injectable hormone treatments to increase egg production in the ovaries. The
ovaries enlarge and become painful as a result of OHSS.
OHSS symptoms usually develop
after a week of using injectable drugs to promote ovulation, however it might
take up to two weeks or more. The severity of symptoms can range from moderate
to severe, and they might worsen or improve with time. Mild to moderate OHSS
symptoms may include mild to moderate stomach discomfort, abdominal bloating or
increased waist size, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and soreness around the
ovaries.
Severe OHSS can include fast
weight gain, severe stomach discomfort, severe nausea and vomiting, blood
clots, reduced urine, shortness of breath, and an inflated or tight belly. Severe
OHSS is uncommon, but it can be fatal. Kidney failure, severe stomach
discomfort, fast weight gain, shortness of breath, and blood clots in major
veins or arteries are all possible complications.
Your healthcare practitioner will
carefully monitor each treatment cycle to reduce your risks of getting OHSS,
including periodic ultrasounds to evaluate the growth of follicles and blood
tests to check your hormone levels.
8) Real Life Testimonials and
Success Stories of Egg Freezing
a) Alessia's
Extend Fertility egg freezing Success story
Alessia opted to freeze her eggs
when she was 35 and not in a relationship. Extend Fertility was chosen because
of their moderate cost and warm environment. She had a severe response to the
drug, yet she was still able to freeze 27 eggs in one cycle. She met her spouse
three years later and chose to utilize her frozen eggs for IVF. They were left
with 5 genetically normal embryos after inseminating the eggs and producing
embryos. The first embryo was implanted, and it was successful. Alessia's kid
was born in May 2020, making her one of the first infants born from an egg
frozen at Extend Fertility's facility.
b) Egg Freezing
Patient Story (Betsy)
Betsy elected to freeze her eggs
at the age of 39, despite knowing that freezing embryos would have increased
her chances of success. She didn't want to risk meeting someone and sharing her
frozen eggs with him. She extracted 17 eggs, 11 of which were developed and
could be frozen. She found her spouse three years later and chose to use her
frozen eggs. Despite the difficulties, she gave birth to her baby daughter at
the age of 46.
c)
'I've Just Spent $14,000 On One Egg': Five People On Their Egg Freezing
Experience
This article describes the
experiences of five people who chose to freeze their eggs. Their reasons ranged
from need to a wish to have children in the future. The experience was regarded
as physically and emotionally demanding, but also liberating. One person spent
$14,000 to freeze a single egg, which was a huge influence.
d)
Hope, Regret, Uncertainty: 7 Women on Freezing Their Eggs
This article tells the tales of
seven women who made the decision to freeze their eggs. Some of them were
successful, while others were not. Maura Downs, for example, froze her eggs at
the age of 35 after an ectopic pregnancy left her with only one ovary. However,
after two rounds of egg freezing, she had no viable eggs. Laura Kelly, a
software engineer, on the other hand, elected to freeze her eggs at the age of
31, giving her the freedom to postpone having children until she was ready.
These tales demonstrate the
variety of egg freezing experiences and outcomes. It's crucial to understand
that, while egg freezing can help maintain fertility, it doesn't ensure a
healthy pregnancy or a live delivery. The effectiveness of egg freezing can be
determined by a variety of factors, including the woman's age at the time of
freezing, the amount of frozen eggs, and the quality of the eggs.
9) Famous Fertility Clinics
offering advanced Egg Freezing Facilities
a) Pacific
Fertility Center, Los Angeles
This institution is well-known
for its above-average IVF success rate and provides a variety of procedures,
including egg preservation. It has a world-class, cutting-edge lab and
award-winning doctors.
Extend Fertility, the country's
largest egg-freezing practice, provides cheap short and long-term egg
preservation. It also offers embryo freezing, infertility evaluation, fertility
drug management, IUI and IVF, and frozen egg utilization.
Oocyte cryopreservation is a
complete egg freezing service provided by UCLA Health. To retain reproductive
potential, a woman's eggs are extracted, frozen, and stored. The eggs can be
kept for prolonged periods of time without evident detrimental consequences.
d)
Johns Hopkins Fertility Center
Johns Hopkins' experienced team
provides superior egg freezing procedures. They have substantial expertise with
fertility preservation techniques such as egg freezing, fertilized egg (embryo)
freezing, and sperm banking.
e)
Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago
This facility is ranked among the
finest fertility clinics in the United States and provides superior egg
freezing procedures.
RMA of New York offers advanced
egg freezing services and has 14 fertility clinics throughout the New York area
Remember that the selection of a
fertility clinic should be based on a number of considerations, including the
clinic's success rates, the expertise and credentials of its personnel, the
variety of services provided, and the cost of treatment. It's also vital to
assess the clinic's approach to patient care, as well as your general comfort
and trust in the clinic and its staff.
10) Top Companies offering Egg
Freezing Facilities as a part of Employee benefits
Adoption, surrogacy, egg, embryo,
and sperm freezing and storage, artificial insemination, breast milk transfer,
and limited coverage of fertilization, culture, and semen analysis for
gestational carriers are all available.
They provide a 1+1 Smart Cycle
model for infertility and fertility therapies, as well as cryopreservation of
eggs, sperm, and embryos for up to a year.
They offer $20,000 worth of
fertility treatments, including egg freezing.
They offer unlimited
coverage for IVF and egg freezing.
They provide up to $20,000 in
adoption or surrogacy help and up to $50,000 in egg, sperm, or embryo
harvesting and storage without an infertility diagnosis.
They provide up to $25,000 in
fertility, surrogacy, adoption, and egg freezing help per couple.
They provide $100,000 for four
IVF rounds and preimplantation genetic screening, as well as $20,000 for
surrogacy perks.
They provide three IVF rounds,
fertility consultations, and egg freezing help.
They offer a lifetime maximum of
$20,000, which covers egg and embryo freezing.
They provide egg freezing
services.
They cover up to $40,000 in
IVF-related charges, including drugs and procedures, as well as up to two
cycles of egg freezing for women.
They cover up to $15,000 in
IVF-related fees, including drugs and procedures, as well as up to two cycles
of egg freezing for women.
They cover up to $25,000 in
IVF-related fees, including drugs and procedures, as well as up to two cycles
of egg freezing for women.
It provides IVF, IUI, and
egg/embryo/sperm preservation for $40,000, fertility drugs for $20,000, donor
and surrogacy services for $25,000, and approved adoption services for $25,000.
They provide reproductive
services, surrogacy, adoption, and egg and sperm preservation for $75,000 each.
These businesses understand the
value of offering fertility benefits to their employees and have policies in
place to assist their employees' reproductive choices. The specifics of these
perks, however, might differ from business to company, so it's always best to
check with the firm's HR department for the most up-to-date information.
11) Conclusion
The tremendous technological
breakthrough of egg freezing has transformed the landscape of women's
reproductive health, providing a significant tool for fertility preservation.
As we've seen in this article, the process of freezing eggs is one that
requires careful thought, planning, and comprehension.
Each stage is critical in
achieving the best potential outcome, from the initial consultation through the
retrieval and freezing of eggs. While the procedure can be physically and
emotionally taxing, it also provides women with hope and empowerment by giving
them the opportunity to protect their fertility in the future.
It's crucial to realize, though,
that while egg freezing can boost your chances of having children in the
future, it doesn't ensure a healthy pregnancy. The effectiveness of egg
freezing can be determined by a variety of factors, including the woman's age
at the time of freezing, the amount of frozen eggs, and the quality of the
eggs.
The financial elements of egg
freezing are also important to consider, with costs changing greatly based on a
variety of circumstances. It is critical to properly investigate and comprehend
the prices involved, as well as the available coverage and financing choices.
Despite the hurdles and
uncertainty, the experiences of women who have successfully utilized frozen
eggs to conceive children demonstrate the technology's potential. Their
experiences emphasize the potential that egg freezing may provide, offering a
ray of hope to anyone exploring this route.
To summarize, egg freezing is a
serious decision that demands great thought and planning. It is a personal
journey that is unique to each person. We may make educated judgments that best
suit our unique circumstances and future ambitions if we arm ourselves with the
necessary knowledge and insight. As we continue to navigate the changing
environment of reproductive health, egg freezing demonstrates the power of
science and the resilience of women.
FAQ’s
1)
What are the benefits of egg freezing?
Egg freezing can provide relief
from the stress and anxiety associated with infertility, especially for women
who plan to delay motherhood. It allows women to conceive later in life using
younger, healthier eggs, which can decrease the rates of miscarriage and Down
syndrome
2)
What is the ideal age to freeze my eggs?
The optimal age to freeze eggs is
between 32 and 36 years. However, any woman between the ages of 30 and 40
should consider egg freezing if they plan to delay starting a family
3)
What is the egg freezing process?
The egg freezing process involves
stimulating the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, which are then retrieved and
frozen for future use. The eggs are stored at ultra-cold temperatures until you
are ready to try for pregnancy, at which point they are thawed and combined
with sperm
4)
How many eggs should I freeze?
The number of eggs to freeze
depends on your age. For example, if you are 35, you should aim to freeze at
least 10 eggs. If you are 38, you should aim to freeze 16 eggs. However, the
number of eggs you can actually freeze in one cycle may vary
5) What
are the risks and safety concerns of egg freezing?
While egg freezing is generally
safe, it does come with some risks. These include the side effects of fertility
drugs, such as nausea, vomiting, and headaches, as well as potential
complications from the egg retrieval procedure, such as bleeding or infection.
Additionally, not every egg will survive the thawing process, and not all eggs
will be successfully fertilized by the sperm
6)
Does insurance cover egg freezing?
It is becoming more common for
health insurance to cover some or all of an egg freezing cycle. However, every
insurance plan is different, so it's best to check with your benefits
department to confirm coverage
7)
How do I know if I am a good candidate for egg freezing?
Healthy women under 40 years of
age with normal hormone levels are generally good candidates for egg freezing.
However, factors such as your medical history and fertility assessment results
will also be considered
8)
How long can eggs be stored after freezing?
Once eggs are frozen, they can
remain that way indefinitely and are available to thaw at any point
9)
What is the success rate of egg freezing?
The success rate of egg freezing
varies based on several factors, including your age at the time of freezing and
the quality of your eggs. For instance, if you're under 35 and freeze 10 eggs,
your chances of at least one live birth using those eggs later are about 60–70%
10)
How much does egg freezing cost?
Out of pocket costs for an egg
freezing cycle and medication are roughly $10,000. However, the cost can
sometimes reach nearer to $20,000
11)
What happens during the egg retrieval process?
Once stimulated follicles have
developed into mature eggs, which usually occurs after two weeks, you will
undergo an egg retrieval. This procedure takes about 15 minutes and leaves no
scars or stitches
12)
What is the first step towards freezing my eggs?
The first step towards freezing
your eggs is to request an appointment for a physician consultation. During
that time you will discuss your medical history and the egg freezing procedure
in more depth
13) What happens after
I freeze my eggs?
After you freeze your eggs, they
are stored until you are ready to become pregnant. At that point, the eggs are
thawed, fertilized with sperm, and any resulting embryos are transferred to the
uterus for implantation
14)
Can I exercise during the egg freezing cycle?
To avoid ovarian torsion
(twisting of the ovary when it becomes enlarged), women need to limit exercise
and intercourse during an egg freezing cycle
The eggs are flash frozen using a
method called vitrification, which cools cells so quickly that they become
"glass-like," or "vitrified." This method reduces the
likelihood that the fluid in the egg will form ice crystals, which could damage
it
16) What happens if I have
irregular cycles, PCOS, or thyroid issues?
If you have irregular cycles,
PCOS, or thyroid issues, it's recommended to talk to a doctor before trying to
conceive. You should seek the help of a fertility specialist if you have been
trying for one year if the female partner is under 35, or six months if the
female partner is over 35
17) What is the
impact of age on egg quality and quantity?
As women age, both the quantity
and quality of their eggs decrease. This is why freezing eggs at a younger age
can ensure a larger portion of eggs are normal when you are ready to have your
family
18) Can egg
freezing help me balance my career and family planning?
Yes, egg freezing allows women to
pursue career and relationship goals and once comfortable, come back to
motherhood. It provides the freedom to date without the pressure of the
biological clock
19)
What is the impact of egg freezing on my fertility?
Egg freezing does not remove all
of your eggs or impact your natural fertility. After you freeze your eggs and
down the line are ready to become pregnant, it is recommended to try to
conceive naturally first
20)
What is the impact of my AMH level on egg freezing?
Anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) is
not a perfect indicator, but it helps estimate if a person has a high, normal
or low amount of eggs. It also predicts how successful egg retrieval may be
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