The Egg Freezing Process: A Step-by-Step Guide
Egg Freezing, also known as cryopreservation, is an important consideration for many individuals and couples who wish to have children in the future but are not ready to conceive right now. There are many factors that influence someone’s decision to freeze their eggs. Some factors include higher education, career growth, finding the right partner, or health management. This blog post explores what egg freezing is, why it might be necessary, and how to get started with the process.
What is Egg Freezing?
Egg freezing (cryopreservation) refers to the method in which a woman’s eggs are extracted, frozen, and stored. This process helps preserve fertility and allows people to have biological children in the future. This can be a vital option for:
Cancer Patients: Certain cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation, and medications associated with bone marrow transplants can harm fertility. These treatments are toxic to a woman’s eggs (oocytes) and can result in infertility or sterility. Preserving eggs before treatment can provide a chance for future parenthood.
Individuals with Genetic or Autoimmune Disorders: Some genetic conditions or their treatments can impact fertility. For example, women who have a family history of ovarian cancer, or test positive for the BRCA gene, may choose to remove their ovaries as a preventive measure. Medications used to treat certain autoimmune diseases can also be toxic to the oocytes or cause early menopause.
Transgender Individuals: Hormone therapy and surgeries for gender transition can affect fertility. Preserving gametes (eggs or sperm) before starting treatment can offer reproductive options later.
Elective Egg Freezing: Elective egg freezing is when someone freezes their eggs for personal, rather than medical, reasons. In recent years, elective egg freezing has become increasingly popular as women wish to delay having children for while they pursue their career, education, travel, or for many other reasons. Whatever the reason, this process makes it possible to preserve their fertility until they are ready to start a family.
The Egg Freezing Process
The egg freezing process involves several steps, each crucial to ensuring the successful preservation of eggs. Here's a detailed look at what to expect:
Precycle Preparation
1. Initial Consultation and Evaluation
The journey begins with an initial consultation with a fertility specialist. During this appointment:
Discussion of Goals: You'll discuss your reasons for freezing your eggs, set realistic expectations for the process, and collaborate with your physician to plan treatment.
Physical Examination: A physical exam and basic fertility tests (e.g., blood tests and ultrasounds) will be conducted to assess your ovarian reserve and overall reproductive health.
Medical History Review: Your fertility specialist will review your medical history, including any previous fertility issues or treatments.
The initial consultation can sometimes feel like the biggest hurdle. Ask your physician as many questions as you can. The fertility specialists at the Reproductive Medicine Group are happy to go through every question and concern you may have so you leave feeling confident and prepared.
In addition, your team will make sure you are fully prepared prior to starting treatment. This includes reviewing the process, reviewing your specific medication protocol, and financial information.
2. Ovarian Stimulation
Once you decide to proceed, the next step is ovarian stimulation, which involves:
Hormone Injections: You will administer hormone injections daily for 10-14 days (depending on your treatment plan) to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs. These hormones mimic the natural hormones (FSH and LH) that regulate the menstrual cycle.
Monitoring: You will visit the clinic 3-5 times for blood tests and ultrasounds. During these visits, your team will track your response to the hormones and monitor follicular development.
3. Trigger Shot
After about 10-12 days of injections, your physician will instruct you to take your “trigger shot”. This shot causes eggs to release in preparation for retrieval. Your trigger shot timing is very important, so make sure you follow your care team’s instructions closely.
4. Egg Retrieval
Your egg retrieval will be scheduled roughly 36 hours after the trigger shot is administered.
Procedure: Egg retrieval is a minor surgical procedure performed under anesthesia. Using ultrasound guidance, a needle is inserted through the vaginal wall to aspirate the eggs from the ovarian follicles.
Recovery: The procedure takes about 30 minutes. Bring a friend or partner with you to drive you home afterwards. Take the day off, relax, and do not operate heavy machinery. Mild cramping or discomfort is common, but you should start to feel better quickly.
5. Freezing the Eggs
At the Reproductive Medicine Group, our lab will store your eggs until you are ready to use them. At the end of the process, you should feel confident that you placed your trust in one of the most experienced fertility teams in the country.
Conclusion
Egg freezing offers women the opportunity to take control of their reproductive futures. By understanding the process and working closely with a fertility specialist, you can make informed decisions about preserving your fertility.
If you are considering egg freezing, schedule a consultation with one of our fertility experts to explore your options and take the first step toward safeguarding your future fertility.