Egg freezing is a process in which a woman’s eggs (oocysts) are retrieved, frozen and stored for use in future IVF treatments to preserve a woman’s fertility. A woman’s chances of conceiving naturally fall as she gets older because the quality and number of her eggs drop. Egg freezing is done to preserve fertility by freezing eggs while the female is young and the eggs are of the highest quality. Frozen egg can be stored for up to 10 years without any damage. Egg freezing and the unfreezing process do not affect egg quality and IVF outcome.
Who should consider egg freezing?
- Women with cancer requiring chemotherapy
- Women with diminished ovarian reserve
- Women at risk of premature ovarian failure due to chromosomal abnormalities (Turner syndrome, fragile X syndrome)
- Women with a family history of early menopause
- Women with the ovarian disease who are at risk of damaging the ovaries (endometriosis)
- Women who postpone childbearing due to career, education or personal goals.
How is Egg Freezing Done?
- Ultrasound is done on the 2nd day of the menstrual cycle. It is investigated whether there is any problem that prevents treatment. If there is no cyst in the ovary in the ultrasound examination, the oocyte freezing process is started.
- Egg stimulation is started on the 2nd or 3rd day of menstruation with gonadotropin injections. The dose of the injections and medications to be started is decided according to the ovarian reserve.
- During ovarian stimulation, the follicular growth is monitored by transvaginal ultrasonography and blood estradiol (E2) levels.
- When the follicles sizes reach a diameter of 18-20 mm, the ovulation triggered by injecting the last shot (hCG).
- Egg retrieval is done 34-40 hours after hCG administration. The procedure is performed under sedation and takes about 15-20 minutes.
- After egg retrieval the patient stays in the recovery room for about an hour under the supervision of a doctor and then discharged.
