Fertility treatments have come a long way in the past few decades, but there are still many questions surrounding them. One common question is if you freeze your eggs can you still get pregnant? The answer may not be as straightforward as you think.Â
While freezing your eggs does provide you with more options to have children in the future, it is by no means a guarantee. In this blog post, we will explore the realities of egg freezing, what the success rate is, and how you can maximize your chances for a successful pregnancy if you do decide to freeze your eggs.
What is Egg Freezing?
Egg freezing is a process by which a woman’s eggs are extracted and frozen for future use. The eggs can be thawed and fertilized at a later date, and the resulting embryos can be implanted in the uterus.
Egg freezing is not a guarantee of pregnancy, but it does provide women with an insurance policy against age-related fertility decline. The success rate for pregnancy using frozen eggs is lower than that for fresh eggs, but it is still a viable option for many women.
How does Egg Freezing Work?
When you freeze your eggs, they are thawed and fertilized with sperm in a lab. The resulting embryos are then implanted in your uterus. If all goes well, you will get pregnant and have a baby!
What are the Success Rates of Egg Freezing?
There are many factors that affect the success rates of egg freezing, including the age of the woman at the time of freezing, the number of eggs frozen, and the method used to freeze the eggs.
The success rates also vary depending on whether the eggs are thawed and fertilized before being implanted into the uterus (known as in-vitro fertilization or IVF) or if they are simply thawed and then injected into the fallopian tubes (known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection or ICSI).
The overall success rate for egg freezing is about 50-60%, but this varies widely depending on the clinic performing the procedure.
Some clinics have reported success rates as high as 80-90%. The best chance for success is usually in women who are younger (<35 years old), have a large number of eggs retrieved (10-20), and use a modern freezing method such as vitrification.
Egg freezing is not 100% effective, so there is always a chance that pregnancy will not occur even if all of the steps are followed correctly.
However, most women who undergo egg freezing end up with at least 1 or 2 healthy embryos that can be used for IVF or ICSI.Â
So even if pregnancy does not occur after thawing and transferring 1 embryo, it may still be possible to become pregnant with another cycle using a different embryo.
Are There Any Risks Associated with Egg Freezing?
There are a few risks associated with egg freezing, but they are typically minor and can be easily managed.
- The most common risk is damage to the eggs during the freezing process. However, this can usually be repaired with special techniques and does not usually cause any problems with fertility.
- There is also a small risk of infection when the eggs are retrieved from the ovaries. This can usually be treated with antibiotics.Â
- Finally, there is always a chance that the frozen eggs will not survive thawing or that they will not fertilize properly when they are thawed. However, these risks are small, and overall, egg freezing is a very safe and effective way to preserve fertility.
How Much Does Egg Freezing Cost?
The cost of egg freezing can vary depending on the clinic you choose and the country you are in. It can also depend on how many eggs you want to freeze and whether or not you use fertility drugs during the process.
In general, the cost of freezing your eggs will be between $4,000 and $10,000. This includes the costs of the drugs, the procedure itself, and storage for one year. Some clinics may offer discounts if you pay upfront or if you freeze multiple eggs.
If you plan to use your frozen eggs in the future to have a baby, there will be additional costs for IVF treatment. These costs can range from $8,000 to $15,000 per cycle.
Conclusion
Freezing your eggs is a viable option for anyone who wants to preserve their fertility and the possibility of getting pregnant later in life.
Although there is still no guarantee that pregnancy will result from this process, research shows that it can be successful. It’s important to remember, though, that freezing your eggs does not provide any guarantees about future fertility.
It should not be seen as a substitute for seeking medical advice if you are concerned about your ability to get pregnant or have any other health concerns related to infertility.
FAQS
Egg Freezing Age Limit?
There are a few different age limits when it comes to freezing your eggs.
- The first is the limit set by fertility clinics, which is usually between 39 and 42. This is because the success rate of egg freezing decreases as you get older, so clinics want to make sure they’re using the best quality eggs possible.
- The second age limit is menopause, which usually occurs around 51. This is because once you reach menopause, your eggs are no longer viable and cannot be fertilized.
- Finally, there is the natural age limit of around 55, which is when your ovaries start to produce less estrogen and your eggs become less healthy.
So, if you’re looking to freeze your eggs, the best time to do it is before you turn 39. However, if you’re over 40 or have a family history of early menopause, it’s still worth considering egg freezing as an option.
Best Age to Freeze Eggs?
There is no definitive answer to this question as each person’s situation is different. However, many fertility experts believe that the best age to freeze eggs is between the ages of 30 and 35.
This is because a woman’s fertility begins to decline around age 35, and freezing her eggs at this point gives her the best chance of conceiving later in life when she may have difficulty getting pregnant naturally.
Egg freezing is also more successful when done at a younger age, so women in their early 30s may have better odds of success if they choose to freeze their eggs.
