At times, life’s circumstances can clash with a woman’s desire to have a baby. Luckily, technology has found a way to help women keep their pregnancy dream a reality, by allowing them to freeze and store their eggs for future use.
There are many reasons why a woman might wish to postpone a pregnancy, such as:
- Waiting to find the right partner
- Pursuing education
- Pursuing a career
- Dealing with a medical condition
Egg freezing is an elective procedure that helps women address these concerns and remove some of the pressure of the biological clock. Eggs can be safely frozen for many years and then used later, to help women achieve a successful pregnancy when the timing is right.
The younger a woman is when freezing her eggs, the better the chance of a successful pregnancy at a later time. This is because fertility decreases as a woman ages. The main reason for this decline is an increased rate of aneuploidy (abnormal chromosomes) found in older eggs. Aneuploidy contributes to infertility, miscarriages and genetic abnormalities in live born infants.
The usual age range for patients undergoing egg freezing is from 21-39, and the process is similar to that of in vitro fertilization. The ovaries are stimulated to produce multiple eggs through the use of hormone shots. These shots are usually given for a period of about 10 days. Regular vaginal ultrasounds and blood tests are also performed, to monitor the response. When optimal the eggs are removed vaginally, via ultrasound guidance.
Research has proven that using frozen eggs is safe and offers women a new way to preserve their fertility.
Listen to this woman’s personal fertility preservation story:
Please contact Davies Fertility and IVF Specialists to set up a consultation and discuss your options for fertility preservation. Complete our Fertility Preservation Assessment for new patients.