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The egg freezing process: How does it work?

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In the frozen Arctic, as far north as it’s possible to fly on a commercial flight, you’ll find the Svalbard seed vault. Described as ‘the ultimate insurance policy for the world’s food supply,’ it holds millions of seeds representing every important crop on earth.  

Egg freezing, also called oocyte cryopreservation, is based on a similar premise. It’s a woman’s insurance policy against unexpected difficulties or delays in starting a family. It helps to preserve your fertility and maintain the possibility of motherhood at a later date.

 

What is egg freezing?

Egg freezing involves collecting and preserving your unfertilised eggs by cooling them to sub-zero temperatures. These frozen eggs can later be thawed, fertilised, and implanted when you are ready, hopefully resulting in a pregnancy.

Initially developed for medical purposes, such as preserving fertility before cancer treatments, egg freezing has become a proactive choice for many women who aren’t yet ready to start a family but understand that their fertility declines as they get older.

 

Why might you consider egg freezing?

Life doesn’t always align perfectly with the ticking of a biological clock. You’re most fertile in your late teens and 20s but most of us spend those years studying, travelling, establishing a career and finding a partner. 

The last one – finding a partner – seems to be the most significant reason women are delaying motherhood.  

Reasons for choosing egg freezing include:

  • Medical needs: Women undergoing treatments like chemotherapy or radiotherapy that may impact fertility.
  • Age considerations: Fertility declines significantly after the mid-30s. Egg freezing allows younger, healthier eggs to be stored for future use.
  • Career or personal goals: Some women wish to focus on their careers, education, or other aspirations before starting a family.
  • Health concerns: Conditions like endometriosis or a family history of early menopause can influence the decision.
  • Finding a partner: Waiting for the right partner is one of the key reasons that women delay motherhood. Many would have started a family sooner if they’d found the right person to do it with.  

 

How does the egg freezing process work?

There are several steps to the egg freezing process.

1. Initial consultation

We evaluate your medical history, current health, and fertility goals. Tests, including blood work and ultrasounds, may be conducted to assess your ovarian reserve (the quantity and quality of your eggs).

2. Ovarian stimulation

We prescribe fertility medications to stimulate your ovaries. These medications encourage the growth of several follicles (fluid-filled sacs containing eggs). This stage involves daily injections and regular monitoring through ultrasounds and blood tests to track your body’s response.

3. Egg retrieval

Once the follicles reach the optimal size, a trigger injection is administered to prepare for egg collection. The retrieval process is typically done under light sedation using ultrasound guidance to retrieve eggs using a fine needle inserted through the vaginal wall.

4. Freezing the eggs

The harvested eggs are quickly frozen using a method called vitrification, which prevents ice crystals from forming and damaging the cells. The eggs remain in liquid nitrogen storage until you decide to use them.

 

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

Some women never use their frozen eggs – they might find a partner and conceive naturally or they might decide not to have children.

Many other women do use their eggs when they feel the time is right. Some give up searching for a partner and decide to go it alone. Others have found a partner later in life and seek to use frozen eggs, harvested when they were younger and more fertile. 

When you’re ready to use your eggs, you give us a call. We’ll meet with you to discuss your fertility goals, review your medical history and learn how you’d like to proceed. 

Using frozen eggs requires IVF treatment, using sperm from your partner or a donor. Briefly, the process involves: 

  • Carefully thawing your frozen eggs
  • Fertilising the eggs with sperm in a lab using IVF to create embryos
  • Transferring embryo(s) to your uterus at the right time in the hopes of establishing a pregnancy. 

It’s important to note that not all eggs survive the freezing and thawing process, and not all fertilised eggs result in viable embryos. There are no guarantees. 

Usually, we recommend freezing a number of eggs to increase your chances of conception. Success rates are influenced by many factors including: 

  • Your age when you froze your eggs
  • How many eggs you froze
  • Your age when trying to get pregnant
  • Your overall health
  • Any other underlying fertility issues you may have.

 

Is egg freezing right for you?

Every woman’s fertility journey is unique. Egg freezing may offer flexibility and hope but it’s a deeply personal decision influenced by your age, health, finances and goals.

If you’re considering freezing your eggs, contact Demeter Fertility to discuss your options. 

 

Disclaimer

All information is general and not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Demeter Fertility can consult with you regarding your individual health needs.

References

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