Module aims
- Provide information of egg freezing including what it is, what is involves, who it is suitable for and how to get started
- Highlight that egg freezing is an option to preserve your fertility options should you want to delay parenthood due to your career, athletic pursuits or other factors
- Describe how to get started on your egg freezing journey with Chill Egg Freeze should this be a suitable option for you
Summary
- Egg freezing is an option that allows you to preserve your future fertility options by collecting, freezing and storing your eggs to use them at a later date
- Timing is a critical factor influencing female fertility, as egg quality and quantity decreases with age negatively influencing your chance of conceiving
- Book an appointment with a fertility specialist at Chill Egg Freeze, Australia’s dedicated egg freezing service to learn more about egg freezing today
Egg freezing
Are you not quite ready for parenthood, or would you like to delay parenthood due to career or athletic pursuits?
Egg freezing is a way to preserve your future fertility options by collecting, preserving and storing your unfertilised eggs for later use.
This is important as timing is a critical factor influencing female fertility, with egg quality and quantity rapidly declining with age. Once you have frozen your eggs, they do not age giving you the best chance of conceiving when you are ready, should you need to use them.
Not only is it an investment for individuals wanting to press pause on their fertility until the time is right, but it can also be the perfect solution for couples and the trans and gender diverse community wanting to delay parenthood or preserve their eggs.
The egg freezing process involves mature eggs being stimulated to develop before being removed through an egg retrieval procedure and then vitrified (i.e., frozen) and stored for safekeeping.
Generally, the treatment is completed in three stages:
- Ovarian stimulation
To grow multiple follicles, the ovaries are stimulated with various fertility medications. Then, ultrasounds and/or blood tests are used to monitor ovaries’ response and assess the size and quantity of the follicles.
An injection of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) (also known as the ‘trigger’ injection) is then used to assist with the final maturation and loosening of the egg from the follicle wall. This injection is a critical component of the egg retrieval process.
- Egg retrieval
The egg retrieval process is performed approximately 35-38 hours after the ‘trigger’ injection. This is done under ultrasound guidance and takes place while you are sedated.
The number of eggs retrieved in a single simulation cycle can be dependent on a wide number of factors including your age, health and how you respond to the medications.
- Vitrification of the eggs
Your eggs will be frozen using a state-of-the-art technique known as vitrification. This technique was pioneered by City Fertility’s partner CHA Medical Group and is used in clinics worldwide as standard clinical practice.
We understand there is a lot to understand when considering freezing your eggs. To help you determine whether egg freezing is right for you, here are some common reasons people consider when freezing their eggs:
Advancing age
Delaying parenthood is the most common reason people choose to freeze their eggs. Whether you wish to focus on your career, study further, wait until you have found the right person, or simply are just not ready to start a family yet; elective egg freezing gives you the option to preserve your fertility to build a family when the time is right.
This is significant as the age of female eggs is a top factor influencing a female’s chance of pregnancy success, with a woman’s fertility already declining by age 35. More specifically, the quantity and quality of your eggs rapidly declines with age.
Freezing at a younger age allows for egg quality to be preserved, as frozen eggs don’t age.
Low egg count
A low ovarian reserve result (low number of eggs) is a key indicator that your fertility window is rapidly declining. If your ovarian reserve is low, this suggests you should either freeze some eggs now, or alternatively if your situation is right, start trying a family and/or freeze embryos sooner rather than later.
Your doctor may suggest an Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) test to check your ovarian reserve if you are:
- Wanting to delay childbirth and are under 35 years old or;
- If you are concerned about conditions that may have an impact on your fertility like a family history of premature menopause, multiple operations on the ovaries, chemotherapy, endometriosis or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Medical conditions
There are a number of medical reasons that may lead a woman to consider egg freezing such as cancer, a genetic disorder or a family history of illnesses that could limit their fertility.
For cancer patients, it depends on the type of cancer and treatment as to whether egg freezing is recommended or not. Your doctor can advise you more specifically of the potential impact of your condition/treatment on your fertility.
Gender transition
Elective egg freezing is also an option for birth designated females who are medically transitioning from female to male but still want a chance to become a biological parent.
Fertility preservation via egg freezing can provide peace of mind, knowing that you have done all you can to maximise your chance of having a baby in the future. Your specialist will work with you to find the best solution for you.
There is no single and finite age where egg freezing should occur. It is suggested that between 25-37 years is a good range to freeze your eggs however, your fertility specialist will be able to assist you in determining an appropriate age for your individual circumstances.
Research shows that freezing at a younger age can be beneficial for best results as you are more likely to retrieve more eggs in addition to egg quality being improved with younger age. This can also improve the chance of using these eggs in the future.
While egg freezing does not provide any guarantee, it can provide a safety net and alleviate any pressure that comes with your fertility timeline to preserve your eggs for when the time is right for you to use them.
There are some factors that can largely influence the chance of having a healthy baby from frozen eggs which can include the quality and quantity of eggs retrieved. A fertility specialist can discuss these with you in the future.
Your frozen eggs will be safely stored at City Fertility where a 10-year storage limit is in place.
If you would like to store your eggs for longer than 10 years you can apply for an extension by contacting us once you reach the 10-year mark. Our team will be happy to guide you through the process. In the meantime, we will take good care of them.
