Egg Freezing - Fertility & Reproductive Health

Introduction

In the past few years, egg freezing has emerged as a revolutionary option in the field of reproductive medicine, offering women the opportunity to preserve their fertility for future family planning. This process, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, has gained popularity as more women choose to delay childbearing for various personal, professional, or medical reasons. Let’s explore the intricacies of egg freezing, its process, benefits, limitations, and costs, providing valuable insights for those considering this fertility preservation option.

What is Egg Freezing?

Egg freezing is a medical procedure that includes extracting a woman’s eggs (oocytes), freezing them, and storing them for future use. The egg freezing procedure allows women to preserve their eggs (ova) at a younger age, when they are typically of higher quality, and use them later when they are ready to start a family.

The process of freezing eggs involves stimulating the ovaries to produce multiple eggs (ova), retrieving these eggs, and then rapidly freezing them using a technique called vitrification. This advanced freezing method prevents the formation of ice crystals, which can damage the eggs, thereby improving their survival rates when thawed.

Who Should Consider Egg Freezing?

Egg freezing can be beneficial for various groups of women:

• Women delaying childbearing for career or personal reasons
• Women who haven’t found the right partner yet
• Women undergoing cancer treatments that may affect fertility
• Women with a family history of early menopause
• Women with certain medical conditions that may impact future fertility
• Women who want to preserve younger eggs for future use
• Women undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF) who do not  prefer not to embryo freezing for ethical or religious reasons

The Egg Freezing Process

The egg freezing process typically involves several steps:

• Initial Consultation and Testing: This includes a fertility assessment, ovarian reserve testing, and screening for infectious diseases.
• Ovarian Stimulation: Doctors will administer hormonal medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. This phase usually lasts 10-12 days.
• Monitoring: Doctors conduct regular blood tests and ultrasounds to track the development of egg follicles and determine the optimal time for egg retrieval.
• Trigger Shot: When the follicles reach the right size, a final injection is given to mature the eggs and prepare them for the next step.
• Egg Retrieval: This is a minor surgical operation performed under sedation. Using ultrasound guidance, a doctor guides a thin, long needle through the vaginal wall to retrieve the eggs from the follicles.
• Freezing: An embryologist immediately evaluates retrieved eggs; those deemed mature are frozen using the vitrification process.
• Storage: The frozen eggs (ova) are stored in liquid nitrogen at -196°C, where they can remain viable for many years.

Success Rates and Factors Influencing Outcomes

The success rate of egg freezing mainly depends on various factors, such as:

• Age at freezing: Younger eggs generally have better quality and higher success rates.
• Number of eggs frozen: If Mmore eggs are frozen, it increases the chances of future success.
• Egg quality: This is primarily determined by age and overall health.
• Freezing and Thawing Techniques: Advanced vitrification methods have improved egg survival rates significantly.

According to recent studies, the live birth rate per thawed egg for women under 35 is around 5-12%. This means that to have a good chance of one live birth, doctors recommend freezing at least 10-20 eggs.

Egg Freezing and Reproductive Health

Egg freezing offers a way to extend reproductive potential, but it’s essential to understand its place within overall reproductive health:

• It’s not a guarantee of future pregnancy but rather an insurance policy.
• It doesn’t protect against age-related changes in the uterus or overall health that may affect pregnancy.
• Regular gynaecological check-ups and maintaining overall health are still crucial.
• Egg freezing doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted infections or other reproductive health issues.

Egg Freezing Costs

The cost of freezing eggs can vary significantly depending on location, clinic, and individual needs. The average price for one cycle of egg freezing is between INR 50,000 to 1 Lakh. This cost typically includes:

• Initial consultation and testing
• Medications for ovarian stimulation 
• Egg retrieval procedure
• Freezing process

Additional costs to consider:

• Annual storage fees for frozen eggs (usually INR 5000 to INR 10,000 per year)
• Future thawing, fertilisation, and embryo transfer costs if/when you decide to use the eggs

Some employers and insurance plans have started covering egg freezing, so it’s worth checking your benefits. Additionally, some clinics offer package deals or financing options to make the process more affordable.

Benefits and Limitations of Egg Freezing

Benefits:

• Preserves younger, healthier eggs for future use
• Provides more reproductive options and flexibility
• Relieves pressure to find a partner or have children before the woman is ready
• Allows women undergoing medical treatments to preserve fertility
• May improve IVF outcomes when used with fresh eggs in future cycles

Limitations:

• No guarantee of future pregnancy
• Potential for eggs not surviving the freeze-thaw process
• Requires invasive procedures and hormonal treatments
• High costs, often not covered by insurance
• Ethical considerations around long-term storage and disposition of unused eggs

When Should You Freeze Your Eggs?

The ideal time to freeze eggs is typically in a woman’s late 20s or early 30s when egg quality and quantity are optimal. However, deciding to freeze eggs is highly personal and depends on individual circumstances. Factors to consider include:

• Current age and fertility status
• Future family planning goals
• Career and personal life considerations
• Medical history and overall health
• Financial readiness

Open communication with a reproductive endocrinologist to discuss your situation and determine if egg freezing is proper for you is crucial, says Dr Deepthi Bawa.

Conclusion

The egg freezing technique represents a significant advancement in reproductive medicine, offering women more control over their fertility and family planning timelines. While it provides an essential option for preserving fertility, it’s crucial to understand that it’s not a guarantee of future pregnancy. The decision to freeze eggs should be made after careful consideration of personal circumstances, consultation with doctors, and a clear understanding of the process, costs, and potential outcomes.

As technology continues to advance and more long-term data becomes available, egg freezing is likely to become an increasingly common and accessible option for women worldwide. However, it’s important to remember that egg freezing is just one aspect of overall reproductive health. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, regular check-ups, and open discussions about fertility goals with your doctor remain crucial components of reproductive well-being.

FAQ’s

What is the best age to freeze your eggs?

The best age to freeze eggs is typically in a woman’s late 20s or early 30s. At this age, egg quality and quantity are generally optimal, leading to better success rates when the eggs are used in the future. 

What happens when a woman freezes her eggs?

When a woman freezes her eggs, she undergoes a process similar to the initial stages of IVF. This includes ovarian stimulation with hormonal medications, monitoring of egg development, and then egg retrieval. The retrieved eggs are then rapidly frozen using a technique called vitrification and stored in liquid nitrogen. These eggs can be stored for many years, and when the woman is ready to use them, they are thawed and fertilised with sperm, and the resulting embryos are transferred to the uterus.

How much does it cost to freeze eggs?

The cost of freezing eggs can vary greatly and depends on location, clinic, and individual needs. In India, one cycle of egg freezing typically costs between Rs. 50,000 to 1 Lakh. This cost usually includes the initial consultation, medications, egg retrieval procedure, and the freezing process. Additional costs include annual storage fees (around INR 5000 to INR 1 Lakh per year) and future costs for thawing, fertilisation, and embryo transfer when you use the eggs.