Explore the Advantages of The Egg Freezing Process

Egg freezing has emerged as a revolutionary technique offering individuals the flexibility to preserve their fertility. Oocyte cryopreservation, or egg freezing as it is technically termed, is a fertility preservation method that enables people to freeze their eggs for later use. The procedure is extracting the eggs from the mother, freezing them, and keeping them cold for a long time. By offering flexibility in family planning and addressing concerns about age-related fertility decline, this strategy helps to protect a woman’s fertility. For individuals who are thinking about this option, it is important to understand how egg freezing works. In this article we will cover all the necessary topics related to the egg freezing process, its benefits and what to expect from the procedure.

Egg Freezing Process with Timeline

Egg freezing is an advanced procedure which is solely based on your choice and preference. In the below-mentioned table let’s examine the egg-freezing process step by step and in detail:

What to Prepare for the Egg Freezing Process?

Several crucial procedures must be taken to prepare for the egg freezing process:

• Consultation: To discuss your objectives, evaluate your fertility, and gain an understanding of the egg freezing procedure, make an appointment for an initial consultation with a fertility specialist.
• Health Assessment: Have a thorough examination of your health, which should include hormone testing and an ultrasound to determine your ovarian reserve.
• Talk About Medications: Recognise the drugs used in ovarian stimulation. Talk about any possible adverse effects and make sure you understand the prescription regimen.
• Lifestyle Decisions: Lead a healthy lifestyle by controlling stress, eating a balanced diet, and exercising frequently. These elements may have a favourable effect on the procedure’s outcome.
• Recovery Schedule: After the egg retrieval operation, schedule a brief period of time for recovery. This can entail scheduling a day off from work and making plans for a companion to take you home in the event that you will be sedated or anaesthetized.
• Financial Planning: Recognise the expenses related to the freezing of eggs, such as drugs, treatments, and storage charges. Verify whether any parts of the procedure are covered by insurance.
• Emotional Support: Seek guidance or assistance from friends, family or a therapist to deal with any worries or fears.
• Logistics: Plan the visit schedule in conjunction with the fertility clinic, particularly for the ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval phases.
• Observe the pre-procedure instructions: Follow any pre-procedure instructions given by the reproductive clinic; for example, refrain from eating or drinking before the egg retrieval process.
• Ask questions: Never be afraid to speak candidly and ask questions of your healthcare staff. Your confidence and preparedness will increase if you comprehend every step of the process.

Egg Freezing Process Cost

In India, the price of the egg-freezing process could be anything between 80,000 and 1,50,000 INR. The method utilised for the egg-freezing process, the clinic’s location, reputation, and extra services rendered during the process are only a few of the variables that affect the ultimate egg-freezing prices.  This estimate usually accounts for the first year of storage, first consultations, medications, monitoring, and egg retrieval.

Benefits of the Egg Freezing Process

Some benefits of the egg-freezing process are:

• Fertility Preservation: Egg freezing gives people the flexibility to plan their family and the chance to have biological children at a later age by preserving their fertility.
• Goals for Career and Education: It gives women the flexibility to pursue their goals for their careers or educations without affecting their ability to conceive in the future, giving them autonomy over when to start a family.
• Medical therapies: Patients receiving chemotherapy or other therapies that may affect fertility can benefit from egg freezing. Egg preservation in advance facilitates family planning in the future.
• Reducing Age-Related Decline: When people decide to use their frozen eggs, they can reduce the effects of age-related decline in fertility by storing their eggs at a younger age. This will increase the likelihood of a successful pregnancy.
• Emotional Peace of Mind: Freezing eggs can ease the stress brought on by age-related reproductive issues and give future parents peace of mind if they intend to start a baby.

Associated Risks & Side Effects of Egg Freezing Process

Egg freezing is an advanced technique to help you plan your pregnancy according to your choices. But, like any procedure, there are a few risks associated with the egg-freezing process:

• Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS): This unusual condition, which is characterised by bloating and discomfort in the abdomen, may result from an overreaction to fertility drugs.
• Risk of numerous Pregnancy: Fertilising numerous eggs increases the likelihood of multiple pregnancies, which may be harmful to one’s health.
• Procedure risks: Although they are uncommon, the egg retrieval method contains some modest hazards, such as the possibility of infection, haemorrhage, or harm to nearby organs.
• Impact on the Emotions: During the process, some people may feel anxious or disappointed if the results don’t meet their expectations.

Who Should Consider the Egg Freezing Process?

• Career-Driven individuals: Those who want to put off having children yet are committed to their careers.
• Individuals who are planning for medical treatment: People undergoing medical procedures that could affect their ability to conceive.
• Single women: Women who choose to preserve their fertility before dating or having children are referred to as single women.
• Women Over 35: Those who are thinking ahead to starting a family and who are worried about the age-related loss in fertility.
• Flexibility in Family Planning: People who want flexibility in family planning decisions and reproductive autonomy.

Ask Questions To A Fertility Specialist

A few questions you can ask a fertility specialist regarding the egg-freezing process:

• How long does the egg freezing process take?
• Is it painful to freeze eggs?
• How does egg freezing work?
• What is the cost of the egg freezing process?
• What is the optimal age for considering the egg freezing process?
• What medications will be involved, and what are the potential side effects?
• What are the clinic’s success rates with egg freezing, especially for individuals in my age group?
• How can risks and side effects be managed?

Conclusion

Egg freezing is a revolutionary technique for fertility preservation. It gives control to women in order to choose future pregnancies according to their choices and growth. This article gives you a brief idea about the egg freezing process, what you can expect and the advantages of the procedure. If you are looking for options regarding fertility preservation and need more clarity, talk to our expert. At Birla Fertility & IVF, you get a free consultation with a fertility expert. To book one, you can either give a call at the mentioned number or you can fill out the form given on the website with the required details.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What is the ideal age range for considering the egg freezing process, and why is timing crucial in the process?

Generally, people should think about freezing their eggs when they are between the ages of 25 and 35. Egg quality tends to deteriorate with age, therefore timing is important because freezing them early increases their viability for later use.

• Are there any lifestyle factors or medical conditions that may impact the success of the egg freezing process?

Egg freezing method success might be affected by lifestyle variables like smoking and certain medical problems like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). You and your fertility expert must talk about your personal medical history.

• Can you explain the cost structure of egg freezing, including potential additional fees beyond the initial procedure?

Although the price of egg freezing process varies, it usually covers the retrieval process, prescription drugs, and first consultations (at Birla Fertility & IVF you get free consultation). If you want to use the frozen eggs, you may incur additional expenditures for fertilisation and thawing as well as storage. Getting a detailed breakdown from your clinic is crucial.

• What are the key steps involved in the egg freezing process, and how long does it typically take from start to finish?

Three steps are involved in the egg freezing process: cryopreservation, egg retrieval, and ovarian stimulation. The process of retrieving the eggs takes 20 to 30 minutes after ovarian stimulation, which takes about 10 to 12 days. It takes two to three weeks for the complete process, from the beginning of stimulation to the freezing of the eggs.

• When should I freeze my eggs?

Egg quality is said to deteriorate exponentially after a woman reaches a certain age (generally over the age of 35). In cases of advanced maternal age, apart from difficulty in natural conception, there is also a higher risk of the baby being born with congenital defects such as Down Syndrome. Women are advised to explore the option of egg freezing in their 20s or early 30s.

• How long will it take to freeze my eggs?

The whole cycle will take around 15 days and consists of a course of approximately 15 injections (the exact number may vary based on your ovarian reserve and response to the fertility medication.

• How are eggs frozen?

The vitrification process involves dehydrating harvested eggs and replacing the fluid inside the egg with a special antifreeze agent or cryoprotectant to prevent the formation of ice crystals within the egg during the freezing process. Liquid nitrogen (-196°C) is used to flash freeze the egg. At this temperature, all metabolic activity is stopped, and the egg can be stored indefinitely in this suspended animation state.

• Should I get my eggs frozen if I have ovarian cancer or breast cancer?

Egg freezing is recommended for women who need to undergo cancer treatments. It is also helpful in situations where there is a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer or breast cancer especially if there is a family history of the same, considering egg freezing is recommended.

• How long can I freeze my eggs?

For social egg freezing, guidelines state that maximum time for storage of frozen eggs is 10 years. For cancer fertility preservation, the stipulated duration is extended till use.

• Will ovarian tissue freezing cause delay in my cancer treatment?

The process of harvesting and transplanting ovarian cortex is done in conjunction with the patient’s cancer treatment. It is suitable when there are time constraints because of the cancer treatment which makes conventional egg or embryo freezing unviable. Frozen ovarian tissue can be thawed and grafted back into the pelvis after completing chemotherapy.