Egg-Freezing

What is Egg-Freezing?

Egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, preserves women's reproductive potential. It involves stimulating the ovaries with hormones to produce multiple eggs, retrieving them from the ovaries, and then freezing them (at sub-zero temperatures) for later use. When the woman is ready to conceive, the eggs can be thawed, fertilised with sperm in a lab (a process known as in vitro fertilisation or IVF), and implanted in the uterus.

Who is Suitable for Egg-Freezing?

Egg freezing can be an option for several types of individuals, including:

Those undergoing treatment for cancer or other illnesses
Those with a family history of early menopause
Those who want or need to delay childbearing
Those at risk for fertility loss due to surgery
Those undergoing IVF

Benefits of Egg-Freezing?

Preservation of fertility: Egg freezing allows women to preserve their fertility for the future. This is especially beneficial for women who want or need to delay childbearing or those undergoing treatments that may affect their fertility.
Empowerment: Egg freezing can give women control over their reproductive timeline. This can relieve the pressure to have children by a certain age or life stage.
Insurance against potential health or fertility issues: Egg freezing can be an insurance policy for women at risk of infertility due to family history, illness, or certain surgeries. By freezing eggs while they are still healthy, women can increase their chances of conceiving in the future.
Increased chances with IVF: In cases where women undergo IVF treatments, freezing eggs can allow for multiple attempts at pregnancy from a single egg retrieval cycle.

Types of Egg Freezing

Slow Freezing: This traditional method involves slowly cooling the eggs to prevent the formation of ice crystals. The slow-freezing method has been largely replaced by vitrification because it generally has lower success rates.
Vitrification: This is a newer, faster method of freezing that involves immersing the eggs in liquid nitrogen. The rapid cooling process turns the eggs into a glass-like state, preventing the formation of ice crystals and reducing the risk of damage to the eggs. This method generally results in higher survival rates for thawed eggs than slow freezing.

What to do Before an Egg-Freezing?

Before you start the egg-freezing process, you must undergo a thorough evaluation to determine your suitability. Here are some steps:

Initial consultation and fertility evaluation usually involve discussing your medical history, family history, and reasons for seeking egg freezing. Fertility tests may be performed to evaluate your ovarian reserve (the number and quality of your eggs).
Counselling: It's essential to understand the procedure, its costs, the potential risks, and its success rate. You might meet with a fertility counsellor or psychologist to discuss the emotional aspects of the procedure.
Health checks: You may need certain checks to ensure you are healthy enough to undergo the procedure. This could include blood tests, ultrasound scans, and potentially other tests.

Egg-Freezing Process

The egg-freezing process usually involves the following steps:

Ovarian Stimulation: This is the first step in the egg-freezing process. It involves injectable hormones (gonadotropins) to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. This usually takes about 8-12 days.
Monitoring: Throughout the stimulation process, your response to the hormones is monitored through ultrasound scans and blood tests. This helps to ensure that the ovaries are responding well and to track the development of the eggs.
Egg Retrieval: Once the eggs have matured, a minor surgical procedure is performed to retrieve them. This procedure is typically performed under sedation. A thin needle is inserted through the vagina and into the ovaries under ultrasound guidance to collect the eggs.
Egg Freezing: After retrieval, the eggs are assessed for maturity and quality. Mature eggs are then frozen either through slow freezing or vitrification. They can be stored for many years until you are ready to use them.

While the process can sound straightforward, it's important to consult with a fertility specialist and consider your physical, emotional, and financial readiness before undergoing egg freezing. Each individual's experience with the procedure may differ based on their unique health circumstances and medication responses.

What to Expect After an Egg-Freezing?

After the egg retrieval procedure, you might feel sore or bloated for a few days. Some women also experience spotting or bleeding, similar to a period. It's important to rest and take care of yourself during this time. Any discomfort should gradually diminish, but if the pain intensifies or you have concerns, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Your fertility clinic will inform you about the number of successfully retrieved and frozen eggs. Remember, not all eggs collected will be suitable for freezing, as they need to be mature to be viable for future use.

Egg-Freezing Success

Generally, younger women who freeze their eggs have higher success rates because they tend to have more and healthier eggs.

It's generally estimated that the chance of one frozen egg leading to a live birth is between 2% to 12% per egg for women under the age of 38. Success rates are likely lower in older women and women with lower ovarian reserves or other fertility issues.

Cost of Egg-Freezing

A single cycle of egg freezing typically ranges from AUD 4,000 to AUD 10,000, excluding medications which can add AUD 2,000 to AUD 5,000 to the total cost. It's also important to factor in the cost of annual storage fees for the frozen eggs, which can range from AUD 300 to AUD 500 per year. Not all costs may be included in these estimates, so discussing all potential costs with your clinic before proceeding is crucial.