Hey friends! Let’s chat about egg freezing and what it really means for you. Almost two decades ago, a study in a British medical journal unveiled a groundbreaking method known as Oocyte Cryopreservation. Initially, it seemed like a game changer, but as time went on, it became clear that replicating those early results consistently was a challenge. Nowadays, while it’s hard to pick up a magazine without reading about this exciting technology, fewer than 1% of frozen eggs have led to live births.
Over the years, our understanding of freezing human eggs has grown, yet the quest for a reliable freezing technique that matches the success rate of embryos and sperm persists. The main hurdle? It all boils down to the water content in the cells. When water freezes, it expands, which can rupture the cells if they aren’t properly dehydrated beforehand. Using a cryoprotectant can help mitigate this risk.
Sperm have been successfully frozen for over a century, and they’re pretty ideal for this process. They are tiny, individual cells with minimal water content, which means they can often be stored indefinitely when frozen correctly. In contrast, eggs are the largest human cells and contain much more water, making them far more vulnerable to damage during the freezing and thawing processes.
Availability is another concern; when an egg is released or retrieved during an IVF cycle, it’s specifically prepared for fertilization. Any environmental changes can disrupt this delicate process, leading to issues like an incorrect amount of DNA.
Interestingly, a lot of studies on egg freezing report success based on a handful of patients, leading to limited data. For instance, some studies showed that out of 34 frozen eggs, only 15 survived thawing, and even fewer resulted in pregnancies. While larger studies did demonstrate higher survival rates after freezing, the actual number of births remains low.
Currently, the success of egg freezing largely hinges on the age and quality of the eggs being frozen. Younger women typically provide better quality eggs, which means older women might not see the same results. So, until advancements are made, egg freezing might not be the go-to option for everyone, especially those who are older.
This year, we’re excited to participate in a significant study with IVF centers in Japan and across the U.S. focusing on vitrification, a rapid freezing method that could enhance the quality of frozen eggs. Early reports from Japan show promising outcomes with this technique.
For more insightful discussions, like those surrounding breastfeeding challenges, you might want to check out this blog post about breastfeeding. And for those curious about home insemination options, you can explore the CryoBaby home insemination kit, an excellent resource for all things related to this journey. If you’re interested in the success rates of IUI, this WebMD article is also worth a read.
Summary
Egg freezing is a promising technology, but it’s important to understand its limitations and current success rates. While advancements are being made, particularly with methods like vitrification, the journey to successful egg freezing remains complex, especially for older women.