Understanding Egg Freezing

Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is an increasingly popular option for people who wish to preserve their fertility for the future. Dr. Denis Vaughan, a reproductive endocrinologist at Boston IVF, explains the essentials of egg freezing and how it works. Whether you're considering fertility preservation for medical reasons or want to delay pregnancy for personal or professional goals, understanding the process is crucial.

Why Are More People Freezing Their Eggs?
Over the last decade, egg freezing has become significantly more common, with a sharp rise in the number of cycles performed. At Boston IVF, the number of egg freezing cycles has quadrupled in the past few years, reflecting a national trend. More people are opting for egg freezing to preserve their fertility, whether for personal reasons, professional growth, or medical needs, such as before cancer treatment or gender-affirming therapy.

Reasons for Egg Freezing

• Elective Fertility Preservation: Many people choose to freeze their eggs to have children later in life. If you're in your late 20s to mid-30s and don’t plan to start a family in the next few years, egg freezing can act as an "insurance policy" for the future.
• Medical Reasons: Those undergoing treatments that could impact fertility, such as chemotherapy or surgery, may freeze their eggs to protect their fertility. Transgender patients may also freeze eggs prior to gender-affirming hormone therapy.

When Should You Freeze Your Eggs?
While there's no single right answer, Dr. Vaughan advises considering egg freezing if you're in your late 20s to mid-30s and aren’t planning to conceive within the next few years. Egg quantity and quality decrease as you age, so freezing eggs earlier tends to give you a higher chance of a successful pregnancy later. The ideal number of eggs to freeze varies by age, but younger patients generally need fewer eggs than those over 35 to reach the same likelihood of a future pregnancy.

How Many Eggs Should You Freeze?
The number of eggs needed for a good chance of a future pregnancy depends on your age:

• Age 30: Freezing around 9-10 eggs typically gives you about a 70-80% chance of having a baby.
• Age 40: You may need to freeze 20-30 eggs to reach similar success rates.

The Egg Freezing Process
The egg freezing cycle takes approximately two weeks and aligns with your menstrual cycle. Here’s how it works:

• Cycle Start: On Day 1 of your cycle, you call your fertility clinic.
• Stimulation: For 9-12 days, you’ll take hormone injections to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs.
• Monitoring: During this time, you’ll have bloodwork and ultrasounds every 2-3 days to track the growth of your follicles (which contain the eggs).
• Egg Retrieval: Once your eggs are ready, you’ll take a trigger shot, and the eggs will be retrieved 36 hours later under light sedation.

Most patients can continue their normal routine during this process, taking off only the day of the egg retrieval. After the retrieval, the eggs are frozen and stored until you're ready to use them.

How Long Can Eggs Be Stored?
Once frozen, eggs can be stored indefinitely without losing quality. However, it’s important to consider the timing of when to use them for pregnancy. While eggs remain viable regardless of how long they are frozen, your health and pregnancy risks increase as you age. At Boston IVF, embryos can be transferred up to age 51, but most people aim to conceive in their late 30s or early 40s.

Is Egg Freezing Right for You?
Whether egg freezing is the right choice depends on your individual circumstances, such as your age, reproductive goals, and medical history. It’s essential to have a consultation with a fertility specialist to assess your ovarian reserve and discuss the best options for you.

Conclusion
Egg freezing is an empowering option for preserving your fertility and planning for the future. Whether you’re considering it for medical reasons or want the flexibility to have children later in life, the team at Boston IVF is here to guide you through every step of the process. With personalized care and advanced technology, you can take control of your reproductive health and family-building journey.