Having a family is a priority for many people, but for some, it is simply ‘off-the-table’ for now

We know that for women in particular, fertility declines as we age. Statistics show that if you’re younger than 30 years, you have an 85% chance of falling pregnant within a year. But by the time you reach 35 years, your chances decline to 66%, and once you reach 40 years of age, it falls to 44%.

Not everyone is ready to conceive when fertility is at its peak. Some women may be focussing on their career, exploring the world, or looking for that special someone to share their life with. Others may be facing health challenges or medical treatment that could impact their ability to have a baby in the future.

In the past, women have had to choose between having a baby now or making other life choices. However, some women who chose to put having a family on hold still faced pressure as their biological clock ticked away.

Today, advances in fertility medicine mean that women aren’t forced make a choice between having a family at a particular time and engaging in other things that are meaningful to them.

Egg freezing offers you the opportunity to plan your family in the future.

What is egg freezing?

Egg freezing is a way  to preserve your fertility and allows an opportunity for you to fall pregnant sometime in the future.

The correct medical term for egg freezing is oocyte cryopreservation. The procedure involves taking eggs from your ovaries and freezing them to use them in the future when the chances of conceiving naturally are lower.

Why consider egg freezing?

There are many reasons why women choose to freeze their eggs. Some may be focused on building their career so having a baby isn’t a priority right now. Others may want to find their life-time partner before starting a family.

There are also some women who want to protect their fertility options before undergoing medical procedures like cancer treatment. Other women may not be sure they want to have children, but want to keep their options open.

Whatever the reason, egg freezing  can be an empowering option for many women.

Will my eggs get damaged by freezing?

A recent study by Melbourne IVF showed that frozen eggs are just as capable of being fertilised as fresh eggs. The study of over 30,000 eggs collected over 10 years showed that thawed eggs had a 92% chance of survival and a 65% chance of successful fertilisation — rates that are very similar to using fresh eggs.

What’s involved in freezing your eggs?

There are several steps involved in freezing your eggs.

Initial consult

The first step is to meet with me to determine if egg freezing is right for you. During your appointment we’ll discuss further details about what’s involved in the egg freezing process, including the cost of freezing and storing your eggs. We will also discuss your medical history and  I will order some tests so that I can develop a personalised treatment plan.

Ovary stimulation

If you decide to proceed, the next step involves stimulating your ovaries. In a regular menstrual cycle, only one egg matures which is released during ovulation. If you want to freeze your eggs,  the aim is to stimulate multiple eggs to grow so that we can collect and store a large number. To help multiple eggs mature, you’ll need to take hormonal medication.

These medications are in the form of daily hormone injections (and sometimes tablets) which you need to give yourself. Don’t worry! We show you how to do it safely and effectively and give you some tips if this feels overwhelming for you. You’ll usually need to give yourself an injection each day for 10–12 days.

Monitoring your eggs

During the time that you’re taking the stimulation medication, you will need to have some blood tests and ultrasounds to ensure that your ovaries are responding and that multiple eggs are developing.

Egg collection

When  the eggs are ready to collect, we’ll schedule your egg collection procedure. Some people may call this ‘egg retrieval’ or ‘egg harvesting’.

The procedure is performed by your fertility specialist under a light general anaesthetic. Your eggs are collected using a thin needle guided by ultrasound. The needle passes through your vaginal wall into your ovary where it draws up fluid that contains your eggs. There are no surgical incisions or cuts on the belly or anywhere on the body.

You will be able to go home one to two hours after the procedure.

Egg freezing

Your eggs are immediately moved to the clinic’s laboratory for freezing. The process of freezing is called vitrification. This is a rapid freezing method that prevents ice crystals from forming on the eggs. This helps preserve their quality and protects them from being damaged during the freezing process.

Vitrified eggs are frozen in liquid nitrogen. They can be stored for years, which allows you to use them how you want, when you want.

When is the best time to freeze my eggs?

We know that the age that you are when you freeze your eggs, is the age of the eggs when they come out of the freezer. So, the earlier you freeze your eggs, the higher quality  they will be. However, research shows that younger women  who freeze their eggs are less likely to use them.

Freezing your eggs  in your early to mid-30’s helps ensure the balance between retrieving quality eggs with the likelihood that they will be used.

How much does egg freezing cost?

The cost of egg freezing will depend on which clinic you use, as not all fertility services are the same.

On average, one egg freezing cycle can be  between $5,000-$7,000. This may or may not include the following services:

·       appointments with your fertility specialist

·       medications to stimulate your ovaries

·       fees involved in collecting eggs (e.g. hospital admission, anaesthetist, etc)

·       storing your eggs

Your clinic will be able to give you an accurate breakdown of all the costs of egg freezing. It's important to understand all the costs involved before committing to the egg freezing process.

While egg freezing does involve a financial investment, I will work with you to create a plan that fits your unique circumstances and goals.

Is the cost of egg freezing covered by Medicare or private health insurance?

Currently, Medicare and other government subsidies only apply to egg freezing procedures that are classified as ‘medical fertility preservation’. That means there must be a medical reason for the treatment for it to be subsidised. If you are freezing your eggs for personal reasons (e.g. not ready to have children yet), you can’t claim a rebate. Medicare also won’t cover the storage of your eggs, regardless of why you’ve frozen them.

You may be able to claim some of the costs involved in egg freezing procedures through your private health insurance. Check with your provider to see if you’re covered.

How successful is pregnancy through egg freezing?

While egg freezing is an effective way to preserve your fertility, it’s not a guarantee that you will fall pregnant, or have a baby.

The chance of having a baby from a frozen egg is similar to the chance from a ‘fresh’ egg. The two most important factors that influence success is your age when your eggs were frozen and how many eggs are stored. For example, a woman who freezes 10 eggs at 35 years of age has a 70% chance of having a baby, while a woman who freezes 10 eggs at 44 years of age has an 8% chance of having a baby.

What next?

Egg freezing offers an opportunity to enhance future reproductive choices, but it’s not  an assurance of a future family. The decision to freeze your eggs should be an informed choice and shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you’re considering egg freezing, I recommend you find out as much as you can about the process, costs and success rates so you can make an informed decision that’s right for you.

Choosing to freeze your eggs is a deeply personal decision that can be emotionally challenging. I’m here to support you and help you navigate this journey with compassion and understanding.

Schedule a consultation with me to discuss your options in a safe, supportive environment.

References

 1. Delbaere I, Verbiest S, Tydén T. Knowledge about the impact of age on fertility: a brief review. Ups J Med Sci. 2020;125(2):167-174. doi:10.1080/03009734.2019.1707913

2. Melbourne IVF, Frozen is as good as fresh: New Australian study is good news for women who are thinking about freezing their eggs, https://www.mivf.com.au/about-melbourne-ivf/media-releases/frozen-is-as-good-as-fresh-new-australian-study-is-good-news-for-women-who-are-thinking-about

3. Goldman RH, Racowsky C, Farland LV, Munné S, Ribustello L, Fox JH. Predicting the likelihood of live birth for elective oocyte cryopreservation: a counseling tool for physicians and patients. Hum Reprod. 2017;32(4):853-859. doi:10.1093/humrep/dex008

 4. IVF Australia, Egg freezing, https://www.ivf.com.au/treatments/fertility-preservation/egg-freezing