Egg freezing, sometimes called mature oocyte cryopreservation, is a technique for preserving a woman's capacity to conceive in the future. Parents or females who wish to undertake the parenthood journey at a later stage in their life can opt for this procedure. It allows such people to have a child later. Some people like to believe that egg freezing is a means to turn back the biological clock, increase reproductive options, and preserve younger, presumably healthier eggs. Women who are considering freezing their eggs should try to do their best research and be aware of all the information and make a well-informed decision. Here are some important things that Dr. Devi R, Consultant– Reproductive Medicine, Milann Fertility Hospital, Indiranagar, Bangalore would like to tell.
When to Consider Freezing Your Eggs?
Freezing your eggs is a big decision and before going ahead with the process, there are certain things that should be kept in mind.
- It is a good choice to go ahead with the procedure if you have a medical issue or a situation that may impact your fertility.
- You can also opt for the process if you are going through an IVF procedure.
- If you require treatment for cancer or any other illness that could make it difficult for you to conceive and if you want to preserve your younger eggs for use in the future.
How the Process of Egg Freezing Works?
Women have the option to choose between freezing either woman eggs or their embryos (fertilized eggs).
- In either of the cases, the patient must first stimulate their ovaries to release multiple eggs at a time, rather than just one monthly egg after undergoing a screening process.
- Hormone injections are used to make this happen, as it cannot happen naturally on its own.
- The egg-retrieval process begins once enough eggs have matured.
- This treatment is done while the patient is under sedation.
- The eggs are then flash frozen or fertilized in the case of freezing embryos.
- This process, known as vitrification, is so specific that it prevents ice crystals from forming on the eggs, keeping them safe.
Risks of Egg Freezing
As the procedure is invasive, there are some risks involved in egg freezing process it that the patients should have knowledge of.
- Sometimes, using injectable fertility medicines to stimulate ovulation, such as synthetic follicle-stimulating hormone or luteinizing hormone, can cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.
- In some cases, using an aspirating needle to remove eggs might cause bleeding, infection, or damage to the intestine, bladder, or blood artery in rare cases.
- There are also emotional risks such as no guarantee of pregnancy, as successful pregnancies are less common with frozen eggs than with fresh eggs, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Other Things To Keep in Mind
There are a few key things that any female who is considering freezing their eggs should know and keep in mind.
- The most appropriate age for freezing your eggs is before 35.
- It is also important to remember that it does not guarantee pregnancy and that the procedure takes a total of 2 weeks.
- The treatment is also affordable and easily accessible for everyone.
Summing up
Contacting a doctor is the initial step for anyone interested in the procedure. By starting a conversation about fertility options, women can better assess if egg freezing is the best option for them. Studies suggest that women who freeze their eggs feel more relieved from societal demands and have more peace of mind. It is suggested that you start with a brief consultation to discuss your family-building goals if you've been considering freezing your eggs but haven't been ready to take the plunge. You can also get some basic blood tests to find out how many eggs you have, and that could get the process started for you. Freezing your eggs is emerging to be a new-age solution for females to enjoy the journey of parenthood when they are ready, even at a later stage of their life.
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