The 10 most frequent questions about Egg Freezing

In recent years, egg freezing has gained significant attention as more and more women explore their options for preserving their fertility. This advancement in assisted reproduction provides women with the ability to extend their fertile years and plan for family programming according to their personal and professional goals.

With a vast amount of information available online, finding reliable answers can be challenging. We will address the 10 most frequently asked questions about egg freezing.

1. What are the benefits of egg freezing?

Egg freezing offers numerous advantages for women who wish to delay family planning or undergo medical treatments.

·       Fertility Preservation: The quality and quantity of eggs decline with age. Freezing them at a younger age helps maintain their quality, increasing the chances of successful conception in the future.

·       Career and Education: Women focusing on their studies or careers can preserve their fertility without added stress.

·       Medical Reasons: Women undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation can freeze their eggs to protect their fertility.

·       Personal and Emotional Factors: It allows women to choose the right time and partner for parenthood.

2. What is the ideal age for egg freezing?

Eggs are at their best quality and quantity in a woman’s 20s and early 30s. As age increases, so does the risk of genetic abnormalities. While age plays a crucial role in the success of the procedure, modern techniques allow even older women to improve their chances of having a child with their own eggs.

3. What is the process of egg retrieval and freezing?

The procedure includes:

·       Ovarian Stimulation: Hormonal injections for 10-14 days to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Medications such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or menotropins are administered daily. The doctor may also prescribe an injectable gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist or antagonist.

·       Monitoring: Regular ultrasounds and blood tests track follicle development. When the follicles are ready, a human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection is given to help eggs mature.

·       Egg Retrieval: A minor procedure using a fine needle under mild sedation.

·       Egg Freezing: Immediate vitrification (ultra-rapid freezing) in liquid nitrogen using next-generation cryoprotectants to prevent ice crystal formation.

This process is essentially the same as in vitro fertilization (IVF), with the key difference being that the eggs are not fertilized immediately but are stored for future use.

4. How long does the egg freezing process take?

From the start of hormonal stimulation to egg retrieval, the process typically lasts 12-16 days.

5. Are there any symptoms after egg retrieval?

Most women feel normal after egg retrieval, though mild bloating may occur, which resolves within a few days. Drinking plenty of fluids and resting is recommended.

6. What are the chances of pregnancy with frozen eggs?

For women under 35, freezing 20 eggs offers a 70-80% chance of having at least one child. Success rates depend on factors such as age and overall health.

7. What Is the difference between egg and embryo freezing?

·       Egg Freezing: Eggs are frozen without fertilization.

·       Embryo Freezing: Eggs are fertilized with sperm before freezing.

8. How long can frozen eggs be stored?

Eggs can remain frozen for many years without losing viability. According to Greek law, egg cryopreservation is permitted for five years, with the option to extend it every five years up to a maximum of 20 years upon written request.

9. What happens when a woman is ready to use her frozen eggs?

When a woman decides to pursue pregnancy, her eggs are thawed and fertilized using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The resulting embryos are then transferred to the uterus for implantation.

Egg freezing is a powerful tool that gives women greater control over their fertility. Whether for professional, medical, or personal reasons, it allows for flexible family planning based on individual needs.

10. What do statistics say?

A recent study on the effectiveness of egg freezing analyzed more than 4,000 freezing cycles and demonstrated high egg survival rates after thawing, successful pregnancies with frozen embryo transfers, and live births. The study, presented at the 2024 American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) conference, revealed:

·       More than 90% of frozen eggs survived after thawing.

·       50% of embryos created from frozen eggs were genetically normal, a percentage similar to fresh eggs.

·       The average age of women freezing their eggs decreased from 37 years in 2016 to 35 years in 2023.

·       The pregnancy success rate (live births or pregnancies beyond 12 weeks) exceeded 55%.

The research confirmed that age impacts success rates:

·       66.7% for women under 35

·       56.8% for women aged 35-37

·       45.7% for women aged 38-40

·       33.3% for women aged 41-42