EGG FREEZING : PLAN YOUR TIME TO PARENTHOOD
WHAT IS EGG FREEZING?
Egg freezing is a process where a woman’s healthy eggs are collected, frozen and stored for future use. When she decides to plan for parenthood, the eggs can be thawed, fertilized with partner’s sperm and the resulting embryos can then be placed inside the uterus.
WHO SHOULD CONSIDER EGG FREEZING?
Egg freezing is helpful for those who:
- Wish to delay pregnancy for career, education or personal reasons.
- Are unable to find a suitable partner at the right time.
- Are not ready to start a family but want to preserve fertility.
- Low egg reserve but don’t want to start a family yet.
- Are undergoing fertility preservation because of cancer treatment (chemotherapy or radiotherapy).
- Have other medical conditions such as endometriosis or ovarian cysts
- Have a family history of early menopause.
IDEAL AGE FOR EGG FREEZING
- Ideally the egg freezing should be done before the age of 35 years.
- After the age of 35 years, female fertility starts declining rapidly; both the quality and quantity is affected.
IDEAL NUMBER AIMED AT EGG FREEZING
Usually we aim for 8-10 mature eggs to be frozen.
THE EGG FREEZING PROCESS
- CONSULTATION AND EVALUATION : Initial fertility checkup and hormonal testing.
- OVARIAN STIMULATION : Medications are given to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs.
- EGG RETRIEVAL : Eggs are collected under anaesthesia with egg retrieval needle inserted through transvaginal probe.
- FREEZING (VITRIFICATION) : Eggs are frozen as per cryopreservation principles.
ADVANTAGES OF EGG FREEZING :
- Provides reproductive independence.
- Protects fertility in case of medical treatments.
- Allows women to pursue career and personal goals without ticking the pressure of biological clock.
CONCLUSION :
Egg freezing is an empowering option for women who wish to take control of their fertility and future and achieve reproductive freedom . If you are considering this step, consult a fertility specialist to discuss the best time and approach for you.
