Also known as oocyte cryopreservation, egg freezing involves retrieving your eggs and storing them in a frozen state until you’re ready to conceive. Though not an absolute guarantee of a successful pregnancy, this approach allows you to keep your options open, whether you’re considering egg freezing for medical or personal reasons.
You may choose to freeze your eggs to preserve your fertility and increase your chances of having children in the future, especially if you have a medical condition that may affect your fertility or you are undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy (a field known as oncofertility).
Not everybody is ready to have a baby at the same time in life. You may choose to have a child in your late 30s or even 40s when you’re more financially or emotionally prepared, but want to do everything in your power now to reduce your chance of infertility secondary to the natural age-related decline in fertility.
Undecided if you want to even have children? Many women are electing to freeze their eggs just to keep their options open. The decision to become a parent is not one that can be taken lightly. For those who are unsure, egg freezing can be an important step in allowing them the time to make this decision.
If you are considering elective egg freezing, there is a standard set of tests we order for every patient. These can be organised at your initial appointment if your referring doctor hasn’t already ordered them. These tests include an ultrasound of your pelvis with a follicle count, and a blood test analysing anti-mullerian hormone levels and any markers for the presence of sexually transmissible infections. The results of these tests help us to understand how best to approach the egg freezing process.
As women naturally age, the number and quality of eggs will progressively decline. Whether egg freezing will increase your chances of a successful pregnancy will depend on each individual woman’s age, personal circumstances, and overall health. There are no guarantees of fertility from egg freezing, however, it is a very reasonable option for many women to provide some additional reassurance depending on their personal circumstances.
Studies have clearly demonstrated that as women naturally age, their egg number and egg quality progressively deteriorate. We strongly recommend that you seek advice from a fertility specialist to get a personalised consultation and advice specific to your own situation if you are considering this as an option.
No! The egg freezing process does not accelerate menopause.
Typically, the process from start to finish is approximately two weeks or so.
This is a very personal question and is different for each individual patient. This will be addressed in a consultation session.
Most individuals cope very well with egg freezing. Some common side effects can include discomfort at the injection sites, mood irritability, bloating, tender breasts, and headaches.
Dr Danielle Robson, fertility specialist, consults at three locations across Sydney: the CBD, Chatswood, and Manly. A referral from a general practitioner is required for all initial appointments.
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Danielle is a fertility specialist and gynaecologist with an interest in fertility preservation, premature ovarian insufficiency, and menopause management. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a sub-specialist in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.
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