Egg Freezing
Egg freezing, also called oocyte cryopreservation, involves extracting a woman’s eggs, freezing and storing them so that they can be used to try to get pregnant in the future. It is a way women can preserve their reproductive potential if they are not ready to become pregnant now.
Later, when the woman is ready, the eggs can be thawed, combined with sperm in the embryology lab and implanted using in vitro fertilization (IVF)
Understanding the Impact of Age on Ovulation
Each month in a woman’s cycle, several hundred eggs are initiated to become the dominant egg for ovulation. Normally, only one will develop to maturity, and the others are lost.
Beginning as early as a woman’s mid-thirties, this process accelerates, and more eggs are lost to each cycle.
As each year passes, the number of eggs available decreases, and the likelihood of chromosomal abnormality increases.
Why Women Choose to Freeze Their Eggs
There are a number of reasons why women choose oocyte cryopreservation, including the following:
- Cancer treatment such as radiation or chemotherapy that may impact fertility
- A medical condition that may affect fertility like ovarian disease, autoimmune disease or sickle cell anemia
- A gender diversity circumstance like being transgender
- Family history of early menopause
- A genetic mutation like BRCA that may require ovary removal
- Risk of premature ovarian failure due to chromosomal abnormalities
- Preservation of younger eggs for future use
Egg Freezing at Friberg Fertility
Our egg freezing and oocyte preservation options give you the power to preserve your fertility so you can start a family when the time is right for you.