When Should I Consider Freezing My Eggs?

The latest techniques make the process of egg freezing more effective, giving women the ability to extend their fertility and take pressure off the “biological clock.” Today, women have more options than ever professionally, academically, and socially, and many women are waiting longer to have children. 

While women reach peak fertility in their early 20s, it seems biology hasn’t caught up to modern life. Egg freezing allows your biology to better match your lifestyle. If you’re considering freezing your eggs, read on to learn about the most appropriate time to look into this option.

Preserving fertility through egg freezing

Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) involves extracting your eggs and storing them to preserve your reproductive potential. Your University Reproductive Associates specialist may first evaluate your ovarian reserve. That allows us to estimate the potential yield of eggs before an ovarian stimulation cycle. Blood and imaging tests are typically a part of the evaluation.

Injectable hormone medications stimulate the ovaries. Following the assessment of eggs under a microscope, mature eggs are extracted and frozen. Vitrification involves rapidly cooling eggs in liquid nitrogen to prepare them for storage. 

Planning future fertility

The optimal time to freeze your eggs is during your 20s and early 30s, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Your eggs are frozen until you’re ready to achieve pregnancy. Some eggs may not survive the freezing process. 

When you are ready, a specialist warms the eggs and evaluates their viability. Eggs that survived cryopreservation can be used to achieve pregnancy. This process involves fertilizing the egg so that it is ready to transfer to the uterus.

The age at the time you preserve your eggs and the number of available eggs play an essential role in the probability of a successful live birth. Older maternal age during pregnancy increases the risk of complications, including preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. However, many older women have safe, healthy pregnancies.

When to consider egg freezing

There are many reasons to consider freezing your eggs, and speaking to a fertility specialist is a great way to determine the right time for you. Here are some common circumstances where it is beneficial to freeze your eggs:

Delay childbearing for personal reasons 

Whether you’re pursuing a demanding career, have extended educational goals, or due to other personal reasons, freezing your eggs allows you to delay childbearing until you’re ready. More women are choosing to wait to have children while they focus on other aspects of their lives.

Premature ovarian failure 

Women at risk of losing their fertility due to health complications may choose to freeze their eggs for future pregnancy. POF can occur as a result of autoimmune diseases, genetic disorders, metabolic disorders, chemotherapy, radiation, and ovarian disease.

Medically necessary surgery that may damage the ovaries 

Women who must undergo surgery that involves removing the ovaries or may damage them may choose to freeze their eggs prior to the procedure.

Any time a medical condition or treatment for a medical condition puts you at risk of losing your fertility, you should consider freezing your eggs.

Building a family is one of the greatest joys you can experience, and we can help you do it your way and in your own time. Freezing your eggs is a safe and effective way to secure future fertility. 

To learn more, we invite you to contact the office nearest you to schedule your initial consultation. We have offices in Hasbrouck Heights, Hoboken, and Wayne, New Jersey, for in-person and telemedicine consultations. You can reach us at 201-288-6330 or visit www.uranj.com.