Egg Freezing: The Lowdown
What is egg freezing?
Egg freezing is a method used to help preserve female fertility. This is done by collecting and freezing some of a woman's eggs, so that they can be thawed and fertilised at a later stage. If the egg is successfully fertilised it can then be placed back into the uterus in the hopes that the embryo will implant and result in a pregnancy.
Who is egg freezing suitable for?
There are two main reasons women choose to have their eggs frozen. These are:
Social reasons
Some women may choose to freeze their eggs so they can try to have a child at a later stage. By freezing their eggs, they can attempt to conceive at a later stage with eggs that have maintained their quality due to the freezing process. For example, if you're 30 and choose to have your eggs frozen, you can then come back in 5 years' time to use your 30 year old eggs which will be of higher quality than your 35 year old eggs.
Medical reasons
Women who need to undergo cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy can choose to freeze their eggs before their treatment so they can try to have a child later on with eggs that haven't been harmed by harsh medical treatments.
What does the egg freezing process involve?
The steps in the egg freezing process are:
Pre-treatment screening tests
You will be tested to see if egg freezing is a good option for you.
Controlled ovarian stimulation
You will be given medication to stimulate egg production, which will be monitored by ultrasound scans.
Egg collection
You will be placed under light sedation for a short procedure where we'll collect your eggs.
Egg freezing
We use an advanced freezing method called vitrification to freeze your eggs. The eggs are then stored until you decide to use them.
Fertility treatment
If and when you decide to use your frozen eggs, they will be thawed and fertilised with either partner or donor sperm. Our embryologists will monitor them and if they do develop into viable embryos, we will transfer one of them back to your uterus to hopefully produce a pregnancy. Any spare, good quality embryos can be frozen for future use.
How much does egg freezing cost?
Our egg freezing prices are outlined in our pricing.
Does egg freezing guarantee I'll be able to get pregnant?
There are no guarantees that egg freezing will result in pregnancy but it does increase your chances. The higher quality the eggs are when you freeze them, the more likely you are to achieve pregnancy when you come back to use your eggs.
How do I start the egg freezing process?
You can book an appointment with one of our fertility specialist to find out if egg freezing is the right option for you.
