What to Know About Egg Freezing for Fertility Preservation
Many people plan to have children someday, but they might be waiting for the right partner or time to start their families. Egg freezing allows these patients to plan their families according to their timelines without sacrificing their goals.
At the Center for Fertility and Gynecology, we take great pride in providing superior reproductive healthcare to Los Angeles, CA, and surrounding areas from our offices in Tarzana, Thousand Oaks, Encino, and Bakersfield, CA. From family planning to treating polycystic ovarian syndrome, Dr. Michael Vermesh and Dr. Tannaz Toloubeydokhti can care for all of your reproductive health needs.
If you want a family in the future, then you need to know what you can do now to have a healthy and successful pregnancy when you’re ready. In this blog post, our team will explore egg freezing for fertility preservation so you can make the right choice for you and your future family.
Why Freeze My Eggs?
There are several reasons why a patient might choose to freeze their eggs, including:
- Future family planning
- Medical concerns that might reduce fertility, such as cancer and chemotherapy
- Preserving younger eggs for a healthier embryo and pregnancy
- Preparation for in vitro fertilization
Regardless of the reason, patients must undergo a multi-step process to freeze their eggs.
The Egg Freezing Process
First, patients must schedule a thorough exam with Dr. Vermesh or Dr. Toloubeydokhti. If a patient is a suitable candidate to freeze their eggs, then they will proceed to preliminary fertility testing.
Next, the patient will take birth control for one to two weeks to regulate their cycle. Following this, the patient will begin nine to 10 days of hormone injection therapy to stimulate ovulation. This step ensures that our team can collect as many viable eggs as possible during egg retrieval.
On the day of egg retrieval, our team will sedate the patient to improve comfort. The retrieval process is a simple outpatient procedure that typically takes 20 minutes.
Once our team collects the eggs, we will flash freeze them and preserve them at sub-zero temperatures until they are ready for use. According to one study, approximately 74% of women under the age of 34 who freeze their eggs experience a successful implantation, pregnancy, and birth with their preserved eggs.
Am I a Good Candidate for Egg Freezing?
For many patients, egg preservation is a personal choice. However, other factors may encourage patients to freeze their eggs, such as:
- Timing: Patients who are looking for financial, relationship, and career stability before starting a family may choose to preserve their younger, healthier eggs until they are ready.
- Age: Patients aged 45 or younger may wish to preserve their eggs until they are ready to start their families.
- Risk of ovarian failure: Patients with a family history of ovarian cancer or early menopause may be ideal candidates for egg freezing.
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis: Patients with PCOS and endometriosis may benefit from collecting and freezing their eggs.
- Cancer treatment: Chemotherapy and radiation may damage the ovaries. Before beginning cancer treatment, patients should consider freezing their eggs.
Schedule an Egg Freezing Consultation
If you’re ready to explore egg freezing for fertility preservation, contact the team at The Center for Fertility and Gynecology. Our team will help you explore all of your family-planning options.
Patients can schedule an appointment by sending our team a consultation request online.