What is egg freezing?
Egg freezing is a process in which eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and preserved for future use. You may choose to delay parenthood for any number of reasons, whether it’s professional goals, family medical history, or simply a desire to have a child later in life. Egg freezing can also be a valuable resource for those undergoing medical treatments that can impact fertility.
How egg freezing works
The egg freezing process always begins with an initial consultation, ultrasound, and blood work so your doctor can assess the best steps forward. You will be given hormonal medications for 10-14 days to stimulate ovaries to produce multiple eggs (instead of just one in a standard menstrual cycle) before eggs are retrieved. During this time you’ll be monitored closely so make sure your hormones are at an appropriate level for your procedure. Procedures are usually scheduled 12-16 days after medications start and are done under general anesthesia.
This is a simple procedure performed by our expert doctors that involves inserting a thin ultrasound-guided catheter into your ovaries to retrieve eggs. You will be sedated and under general anesthesia for the whole process which takes about 15 minutes. Afterwards you may feel cramping, bloating, abdominal distention and constipation. These side effects usually resolve 5-7 days after the procedure. Most women need 1-2 days to recover after the egg retrieval.
Once your eggs are in our lab our expert embryologists will select mature eggs to be frozen via vitrification, a method of rapid freezing. Access to your frozen egg data will always be available to you.
When you are ready to try to conceive, your eggs will be thawed, fertilized in the lab using partner or donor sperm, and implanted into your uterus or the uterus of a gestational surrogate. Preparing for implantation often requires hormones and ultrasound monitoring. An embryo transfer is similar to a pap smear and does not require any anesthesia.
Is egg freezing right for me?
Egg freezing is an option that gives you autonomy over your own fertility timeline. We typically recommend freezing before the age of 40, with the late 20s to late 30s being the best time to freeze. That being said, every patient is unique, and we are happy to meet to discuss your options.
Freezing your eggs before undergoing medical treatments or procedures that impact fertility can also be a valuable option for those who want to preserve their fertility while caring for their own health. Your doctor or oncologist can call us at 858-794-6363 to begin discussing your unique needs.
Egg freezing success with San Diego Fertility Center
If you're under 35 with 20+ eggs frozen, success rates can exceed 70%. Your doctor will give you more specific success rates depending on your unique situation.
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Paying for egg freezing
Though coverage for fertility care varies widely by insurance plan, the good news is that more and more companies are including fertility treatment in employee benefits. Elective egg freezing is often not covered by insurance, but may be included if considered medically necessary to preserve fertility because of a procedure or treatment for an illness.
You should never feel in the dark about cost. Our financing team is committed to guiding you through your insurance benefits, out-of-pocket expenses, and other financing options every step of the way.
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We do not have an age limit for egg freezing. Everyone is different and every circumstance is unique. However, our doctors will discuss success rates with each patient based on their age and egg count and will help you make a decision that is worthwhile for you.
Once your egg count is determined, you will be told what the success rate for egg freezing is based on a number of factors, including your age. Some women may choose to go through multiple rounds to get enough eggs to increase their success rates. We encourage every patient to do what is best for them, and we will be transparent throughout the entire process so you can move forward feeling the best you can about your future fertility.
There are no long-term side effects, including no long term risk of ovarian or breast cancer, infertility or early menopause. Many patients experience some side effects from the hormones used in this process including headaches, fatigue, irritability, bloating, nausea and constipation. These side effects will cease after the process is completed.
Typically you will be seen 4-5 times within a two-week period while you are on hormones. You will not need to be seen after the eggs are retrieved.
We recommend avoiding alcohol, smoking, and drugs as you prepare for the cycle and complete the cycle. We also recommend avoiding high dose NSAIDS, such as Advil, during the cycle. Toward the end of the cycle we will tell you to avoid strenuous exercise and intercourse for about a week until you are fully recovered after your procedure.
Please inform San Diego Fertility Center if you decide not to use your eggs. You will be given a disposition form and you can choose to donate your eggs to science, another individual, or discard them. Your doctor is here to help guide your decision.