Tag: fertility myths

Egg freezing is becoming an increasingly popular fertility preservation option. But with growing interest comes a flood of questions—about success rates, cost, age, and whether it’s even worth it. Whether you’re exploring egg freezing for medical reasons, future family planning, or simply peace of mind, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know. What exactly is egg freezing – and does it guarantee I’ll have a baby later? Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a fertility preservation technique that allows you to save your eggs for future use. It’s becoming an increasingly popular option for those who want to keep their options open when it comes to having children later in life – but does it guarantee you’ll have a baby? Let’s explore the facts. The egg freezing process starts with hormone injections, which stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs instead of just one. After ~10-14 days of stimulation, your eggs are collected in a short medical procedure under sedation. These eggs are then frozen, unfertilised, and stored in liquid nitrogen until you’re ready to use them. Can Freezing Your Eggs Guarantee a Baby? The short answer is no – freezing your eggs does not guarantee you’ll have a baby. It can increase your chances, especially if you freeze your eggs at a younger age, but several factors affect whether you’ll conceive and carry a baby successfully later in life. One major factor is your age at the time of freezing. Younger eggs tend to be healthier and more likely to result in a successful pregnancy. Freezing eggs in your twenties or early thirties typically leads to better outcomes than doing so in your late thirties or forties. Another key factor is the number of eggs you freeze. Not all eggs will survive the freezing and thawing process. Even if they do, not every egg will fertilise or become a healthy embryo. Your overall reproductive health at the time you want to use the eggs also matters. This includes the health of your uterus, your hormone levels, and any underlying fertility issues that may have developed over time. Success also depends on the quality of sperm used and the effectiveness of IVF when you’re ready to conceive. A partner’s or donor’s sperm must be healthy enough to fertilise the eggs, and the embryo must implant successfully in the uterus. When Is the Best Age to Freeze Eggs? If you’re asking, “When should I freeze my eggs?” the general recommendation from fertility experts is between you late 20s to mid 30s. During this window, egg quality and ovarian reserve are still relatively high, giving you the best chance of success later. But this isn’t a one-size-fits-all decision. Everyone’s fertility journey is different. Some people may choose to free their eggs earlier or later depending on their health, family history, a medical condition that could affect fertility, or plans to undergo treatments like chemotherapy. Others may freeze their eggs later due to career, relationship, or financial considerations.. While it’s still possible to freeze your eggs after 35, it’s important to know that success rates may decline as egg quality and reserve begin to drop with age. If you’re wondering when to start the process, the best first step is to book a fertility assessment. This typically includes hormone testing and an ultrasound to check your ovarian reserve. With this information, you can get a clearer picture of your fertility status and make an empowered decision about whether and when to freeze your eggs. How Many Eggs Should I Freeze to Have a Baby? There’s no magic number—but we can estimate based on age and clinical data. Based on research from studies like Goldman et al. (2017) and Doyle et al. (2016), we can estimate the number of mature eggs typically needed to have about a 70% chance of achieving one full-term pregnancy. These numbers are estimates based on aiming for one baby, so if you’re hoping to grow a bigger family, freezing more eggs may be necessary to maximise your chances. Note: These numbers aim for one full-term pregnancy. This estimation may vary depending on other factors. If the goal is more than one child, more eggs should be frozen. What Are the Chances of Success? If you’re thinking about freezing your eggs, one of the most important things to understand is your chance of having a baby later on. While there’s no guaranteed number of eggs that will result in a full-term pregnancy, we can give a reliable estimate based on several factors especially your age at the time of freezing. Success with frozen eggs depends on four key steps: egg survival after thawing, fertilisation, embryo development, and successful implantation. Let’s break it down. Age at the Time of Freezing Matters Most Age is the single biggest factor influencing the quality and quantity of eggs. Younger eggs tend to be healthier and have a much higher chance of leading to a successful pregnancy. How Well Do Eggs Survive Freezing and Thawing? Thanks to modern vitrification techniques, between 90–95% of mature eggs survive the thawing process. That’s a big leap from older freezing methods and gives most people a strong starting point for treatment later on. Fertilisation and Embryo Development Rates Once thawed, about 70–80% of eggs fertilise successfully using intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), which is the standard method for frozen eggs. From there, around 30–50% of fertilised eggs develop into blastocyst-stage embryos the stage that can be implanted into the womb. Of those embryos, roughly 60% of good-quality blastocysts successfully implant in younger women. Can I Freeze My Eggs if I Have PCOS or Endometriosis? Yes and in many cases, it’s strongly recommended as a proactive and empowering step in protecting their future fertility. If you have PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), you may have a higher number of eggs, however,  the quality of those eggs may vary. There is also a risk of hormone response during stimulation can be unpredictable. With the right […]