Considering Egg Freezing? We Can Help!

 

At what age is egg freezing ideal? 

Women are now considering egg freezing (cryopreservation) to insure future fertility potential. Egg cryopreservation is available for women who would like the option for biological children later in life. The age of the egg is one important factor when considering egg freezing. It is recommended that women contemplating egg cryopreservation do so before fertility declines. Ideally, egg cryopreservation should be pursued prior to the age of 37—and is most effective if done before the age of 35. As women age, egg quality and quantity diminish, leaving a lower probability of eggs that will lead to a healthy pregnancy and birth of a healthy child. Before the age of 35, a woman’s eggs are healthier and greater in number. Due to these factors, it is likely before the age of 35 a woman will have a more successful stimulation cycle, producing more eggs, leading to a better chance of pregnancy later. More eggs per stimulation cycle that are of good quality and are properly frozen can be an insurance policy for women who want to insure their fertility potential for future use. If considering fertility preservation, it is best to consult a reproductive endocrinologist to assess ovarian function and receive a personalized evaluation of future fertility success.

How are eggs preserved?

Another important factor when considering egg cryopreservation is the laboratory that will be handling your oocytes (eggs). Freezing and thawing practices are central to the survival your oocytes. Michigan Reproductive Medicine is a recognized leader in egg cryopreservation. We have the only frozen donor egg bank in Michigan and have been freezing eggs since 2008. In fact, the first baby from a fertilized frozen egg was produced right here in our IVF lab. Our experienced embryologists were among the first in the country to use an advanced technique called vitrification for freezing oocytes. Vitrification is a “flash freezing” technique that reduces the ability of ice crystal formation inside the cell. This advanced technique increases the chance that your frozen egg will thaw and fertilize properly, which then increases your chance to get pregnant when you’re ready.

Next steps after egg cryopreservation

 Once a sufficient number of eggs are frozen, they can remain cryopreserved until you are ready to use them. There is no limit on how long your eggs can be cryopreserved. Once you’re ready, your eggs can be thawed and fertilized to create embryos in our IVF lab. An embryo can then be transferred back to your uterus through a simple embryo transfer procedure.

 

At Michigan Reproductive Medicine we are committed to your fertility needs. To learn more about egg cryopreservation and discover if this is right for you, please call our office for a consultation with our experienced reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Mersol-Barg.

 

Written by Melody Michelon, MSN, NP