In previous posts we explored egg freezing, the benefits and what the process involves. In summary, egg freezing is a way of preserving female fertility. Fertility declines with age as egg reserve diminishes, so freezing your eggs could be an option if you’re not ready to have a baby in your 20s or early 30s.The process involves freezing eggs whilst young and eggs are at their healthiest so that they can be thawed and used later down the line for IVF.
A woman may choose to freeze her eggs for a number of reasons and if any of the following apply to you, you may decide that it’s a necessary step to take to have a family of your own.
- You Have a Medical Condition
If you are undergoing medical treatment for an illness like cancer, there is a chance that it could affect your fertility. In cases such as these, egg freezing would be recommended, because it will allow you to preserve your fertility.
- You Haven’t Found the Right Partner
Unlike embryo cryopreservation which is the freezing of a fertilised egg, there is no sperm involvement. It is only needed later when undergoing IVF. The process itself can be started without a sperm donor or significant other present. Having a baby is a huge decision and one that will change the course of your life. If you’d love to become a mother one day but haven’t yet found the right partner, freezing your eggs will give you the flexibility to delay starting a family until you’re ready.
- You Want to Focus on Your Career
As mentioned above, starting a family is a big, life changing decision. You may want to focus on your career for the time being and delay starting a family.
- Gender Reassignment
If you’re a female undergoing gender reassignment and are transitioning into a male, you may want to think about freezing your eggs. This is because hormone therapy and reconstructive surgery can result in partial or total loss of fertility.
It’s also worth mentioning that there is no guarantee as to whether this will work for you. Egg freezing has been beneficial in helping a number of women conceive but its effectiveness comes down to individual circumstances such as the age at which eggs are collected and used. Typically, those who are younger tend to have greater chances of success as their eggs are of higher quality and they are likely to experience fewer complications within their pregnancy. The most common age for a woman to freeze her eggs is 38 years old. Reports show that those who have the best chance freeze their eggs before the age of 35.
Egg freezing is an investment as there is the cost of medication, treatment, storage, and cost of using frozen eggs at a later date.
To decide whether egg freezing is right for you, we recommend thinking carefully about your circumstances and taking a look into the procedure itself. It may be helpful to have fertility tests so that you’re able to understand whether freezing is necessary. If you would like to learn about your fertility and the options available to you, get in touch with one of our specialists.