Egg Freezing

Preserve Your Options with Egg Freezing

What is Egg Freezing?

Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is the process in which eggs are harvested, frozen and stored for later use. As women age, fertility levels naturally decline. Egg freezing allows women to preserve their fertility.

Our special Egg Freezing Visits Includes:

  • New Patient Consult
  • Ultrasound
  • Egg Freezing Consult-Follow up
  • OC Monitoring
  • Blood Work
  • Cycle Coordination and Management
How Does Egg Freezing Work?

Egg freezing consists of retrieving, freezing and then safely storing a woman’s eggs for use at a later point. Retrieved eggs are unfertilized prior to freezing. The egg freezing cycle normally takes 11 to 15 days or 2 weeks. For some patients, additional cycles may be needed.

Once a woman decides she is ready to use her frozen eggs, frozen eggs are thawed, fertilized with sperm in a lab and implanted into the uterus. This process is called in-vitro fertilization (IVF).


Preserve Your Options

Egg Freezing: The Steps

Step 1: Ovarian Stimulation

Normally, a woman produces one egg during her monthly menstrual cycle. Prior to egg freezing, the patient takes injectable fertility medication that stimulates the ovaries so they produce multiple eggs.

Step 2: Retrieval of Eggs

When eggs are ready, a trigger injection is provided to mature the eggs. To retrieve the eggs, an outpatient procedure is performed. Through transvaginal ultrasound guidance, the physician can view the follicles on the patient’s ovary that contain the eggs and safely remove the fluid they contain.

Step 3: Freezing

Once the unfertilized eggs are harvested, they are cooled to subzero temperatures and preserved.

Step 4: After The Procedure

Patients may experience some cramping following the procedure as the ovaries will still be enlarged. Within a day or so, most patients can continue their normal activities.


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FAQs

  • We will go over your history (OB & GYN history), review all fertility options, briefly
    review the egg freezing process and answer your questions. We will also discuss
    what initial diagnostic testing will need to be done and obtain it same day if you
    are in office!

  • Ovarian reserve is made up of three things: Your Anti Mullerian Hormone (AMH)
    level, your Follicle Simulating Hormone (FSH) level and your anti-follicle count.
    Your AMH level, in general, can be checked at any point in your cycle. We look at
    these three factors to dose medication and predict ovarian reserve levels. Ovarian
    reserve doesn’t tell us about your ability to become pregnant. It only tells fertility
    physicians how to dose medication and help plan your future fertility goals. No
    single person’s ovarian reserve is the same.

  • The sweet spot is 32-36. As individuals age, so do the individuals’ eggs. We have
    more “normal” eggs when we are younger and less “normal” eggs as we get older.

  • Yes, if you are still having a regular cycle with POI or diminished ovarian reserve,
    egg freezing is a possibility. It may require a bit more investigation and may
    require more cycles to achieve your fertility goals!

  • Yes! Having an IUD doesn’t change the process and you do not have to remove
    your IUD. If you have an IUD and are not having periods, your ovaries are still
    cycling. There are few instances where removing the IUD might be indicated, but
    this will be reviewed with your provider and is on an individual basis.

  • No! We cannot “steal” from the future. During an egg retrieval, we can only retrieve the eggs that are present and available at that time. Egg freezing does not make you go through an earlier menopause, and it doesn’t change your ability to become pregnant later.

  • This is different for everyone. Most patients can manage their pain with over-the counter pain medications. The most common symptom is uncomfortable bloating rather than pain!

  • There is no incision at all! The procedure is completed all vaginally through a vaginal ultrasound with a thin needle. It is considered a minor, minimally invasive procedure.

  • No, you do not need to take off work for your injections. But it is recommended to take off work the day of the retrieval and the day after your retrieval. You will also need a responsible adult after your egg retrieval to take you home.

  • Depends! Sometimes individuals will do more than one round. We recommend you have 7-10 eggs for every potential pregnancy that you would like to have later. Generally, 7-10 frozen eggs will generally lead to about 1-2 frozen embryos. So, this will all depend on fertility levels as well as personal goals!

  • We recommend COQ10 and DHEA. We recommend an active lifestyle and eating the rainbow (lots of different colors of fruits and vegetables!).

  • Coverage for Egg freezing depends on the restrictions for each health plan. Typically, "Elective" Egg Freeze is not covered. Coverage is often provided for patients who have an underlying medical condition like cancer that would impact fertility. However, more recently, we have seen some plans covering Elective Egg Freezing, but it is best to do a benefits check for any specific restrictions for each insurance plan.

Personalized fertility options. Now that’s more like it.

Appointments

Personalized fertility options. Now that’s more like it.

Appointments