Egg Freezing / Oocyte Cryopreservation
Egg freezing, medically known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a fertility preservation option that allows mature eggs to be collected, frozen and stored for potential use in the future. It may be considered by women who want to preserve reproductive options because of personal, career or family-planning decisions, or before medical treatments that may affect fertility.
How Egg Freezing Works
The process generally begins with a fertility consultation and assessment of ovarian reserve. Medications are then used to stimulate the ovaries so multiple eggs can mature. Once the eggs are ready, they are collected through an egg retrieval procedure under appropriate sedation or anaesthesia. Mature eggs are then rapidly frozen using a technique called vitrification and stored for future use.
When pregnancy is desired, the frozen eggs can be thawed and fertilized with sperm through IVF treatment, usually using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The resulting embryo may then be transferred to the uterus following medical evaluation and preparation.
Who May Consider Egg Freezing?
Fertility preservation may be considered by women who wish to delay pregnancy, have concerns about age-related fertility decline, or are preparing for treatments such as chemotherapy that could affect ovarian function. The suitability of egg freezing depends on factors such as age, ovarian reserve, medical history and individual reproductive goals.