Egg freezing is a useful procedure for women planning to start a family, but who just aren’t quite ready yet. Cryopreservation of eggs tries to secure the health of the eggs at the time of freezing and store these eggs until a woman is ready to conceive. Fertility preservation may help a woman try to avoid worsening egg quality that can happen with age and that could prevent a successful pregnancy.

While there are a variety of reasons to consider egg freezing, some of the most common include:

• If you are not yet ready to start a family, but wish to conceive in the future

• If you have a family history of early menopause

• If you have cancer and will be undergoing treatment that could impact your fertility/egg quality

• If you have a condition that could affect your fertility such as an autoimmune disease like lupus

• A typical IVF cycle includes the following steps:

  • Ovulation induction — The woman receives hormone injections prescribed by her physician that stimulate her ovaries to produce mature eggs

  • Egg retrieval — A procedure where the mature eggs are removed

  • Fertilization and embryo culture — Retrieved eggs are placed in an incubator and fertilized with sperm; preimplantation genetic diagnosis and screening are available to identify which embryos are free of abnormalities and more likely to achieve the goal of a healthy pregnancy

  • Embryo transfer — Embryo(s) may be transferred after egg retrieval and are placed into the uterus using a catheter inserted through the cervix.

1. Ovarian Stimulation: A woman will be asked to administer injectable medicines at home that help stimulate the follicles in her ovaries to grow and mature (usually for about 9-12 days). During this period of time, a woman is monitored with an ultrasound and bloodwork frequently.

2. Egg Retrieval: During the egg retrieval process, a vaginal ultrasound probe is safely inserted into the ovaries and used to retrieve the eggs. A woman will be given intravenous sedation during the procedure, so she won’t experience pain or discomfort.

3. Cryopreservation: After the retrieval, a woman’s mature eggs are safely frozen and stored for future use. Eggs are stored in liquid nitrogen cryopreservation tanks that are closely monitored to maintain the correct temperature.

Prenatal care typically begins around six to 10 weeks into a pregnancy. This care usually involves periodic blood and imaging tests, as well as physical exams to detect any complications that may arise.

It’s best to consider freezing your eggs during your prime reproductive years, as the quality and quantity of eggs begins to decline with age. Generally, your 20s and early 30s are an optimal time as you have a higher number of healthier eggs.

This number can vary from person to person and is dependent on factors like age, but generally, it is recommended to freeze between 20-30 eggs. It is best to talk to your doctor regarding your goals for your future.

• Infrequent or irregular periods

• History of recurrent miscarriage (2 or more)

• Ovulation disorders or hormone imbalances like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

• Endometriosis

• Uterine growths (like fibroids or polyps)

• Blocked fallopian tubes or uterine disorders

• Diminished ovarian reserve and/or poor egg quality