Life keeps moving, but freezing your eggs can give you the precious gift of time. It allows you to focus on your current priorities without giving up on the opportunity to start a family later. With TFP, preserving your fertility through egg freezing can secure your future family plans, letting you decide when the time is right for you. Interested? Let’s chat about it!
What is Egg Freezing?
Egg freezing is a process that helps you save your eggs for future use—think of it as a safety net for your fertility. It involves retrieving eggs directly from your ovaries and storing them. To get started, you’ll go through a partial IVF cycle that includes hormone medications to stimulate egg growth and an egg retrieval procedure done under mild sedation. The eggs are then quickly frozen using a technique called vitrification and stored in liquid nitrogen until you’re ready to use them. While it doesn’t guarantee pregnancy, it certainly expands your options when you’re ready to start a family.
How Does Egg Freezing Work?
The process can take around three weeks and includes the following steps:
- Stimulating the Ovaries: You’ll take a daily injection to encourage follicular growth, typically for about 14 days.
- Suppressing Your Menstrual Cycle: A second daily injection will help control when your eggs are released by stopping natural hormone production.
- Monitoring Progress: You’ll have pelvic scans to keep an eye on the growth of your follicles, helping to time the egg collection perfectly.
- Egg Retrieval: Once the follicles are ready, an injection will mature the eggs for collection. The retrieval is done with a needle guided through the vaginal wall—don’t worry, you’ll be sedated to ensure it’s painless.
- Freezing: The healthy eggs are then rapidly cooled using vitrification and safely stored until you need them.
Is Egg Freezing Right for You?
If you’re considering starting a family later, egg freezing is a wise option. Here are some reasons why you might think about it:
- Planning for the Future: Maybe you’re not ready for kids yet, whether due to personal goals or simply not having met the right partner.
- Non-Binary or Transgender Individuals: If you’re starting hormone therapy or planning gender reassignment surgery, egg freezing can keep your family options open for later.
- Health Conditions: If you have conditions like endometriosis or are undergoing treatments that might impact your fertility, freezing your eggs could be crucial.
- High-Risk Occupations: If your job is in a hazardous field, preserving your fertility can be a smart choice.
Cost of Egg Freezing
The costs can vary, but here’s a general breakdown:
- Fertility Assessment: £485 (includes a consultation)
- Egg Freezing Cycle: £3,695 (includes retrieval and freezing)
- Storage: £370 annually
For those who might consider egg sharing, there’s an option to reduce the cost, which can be a rewarding experience as you help someone else while benefiting yourself.
Success Rates
About 90% of eggs survive the freezing and thawing process, which is vital when considering egg freezing effectiveness. The chances of a successful pregnancy also depend on the age at which you freeze your eggs, with better outcomes for those who do so before age 35. For more insights, check out our page on egg freezing success rates.
If you’re curious about egg freezing or have any questions, our Patient Support team is here to help! And if you’re looking for more information, be sure to visit this excellent resource on pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, egg freezing offers a great option for those wishing to preserve their fertility for future family planning. It’s an empowering choice that can help you take control of your reproductive health.