Egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, is a process that allows women to preserve their eggs for future use. This technology provides women with the option to delay childbearing for personal, professional, or medical reasons without compromising their chances of having biological children later in life.
The process begins with ovarian stimulation, where the woman undergoes hormone injections for about 10-14 days to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Monitoring through blood tests and ultrasounds tracks the development of the follicles. When the eggs are mature, a trigger injection is given to finalize their maturation.
Egg retrieval is performed under sedation or anesthesia, using a transvaginal ultrasound-guided needle to extract the eggs from the ovaries. The procedure usually takes around 20-30 minutes. The collected eggs are then evaluated, and the mature ones are selected for freezing.
The eggs are frozen using a method called vitrification, which involves rapidly cooling the eggs to prevent the formation of ice crystals that can damage the cells. The vitrified eggs are then stored in liquid nitrogen at temperatures of -196°C, where they can remain viable indefinitely.
When the woman is ready to use the frozen eggs, they are thawed, and the mature eggs are fertilized using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), where a single sperm is injected directly into each egg. The resulting embryos are then cultured for a few days before being transferred into the woman’s uterus for potential pregnancy.
Egg freezing offers significant benefits, particularly for women who face medical treatments like chemotherapy that can affect fertility, or for those who wish to delay motherhood due to career, education, or personal reasons. It also empowers women with reproductive autonomy and flexibility.
However, it is important to note that egg freezing does not guarantee a future pregnancy. Success rates depend on various factors, including the woman’s age at the time of egg retrieval and the number of eggs frozen. Despite these considerations, egg freezing remains a valuable option for women looking to preserve their fertility for the future.