Egg Freezing

DR. MICHAEL VERMESH: Egg freezing is a recent development in the field of infertility and in-vitro fertilization. It has been considered experimental for a long period of time; however, recently, we have been able to achieve a great deal of success and therefore, egg freezing has become a standard procedure rather than experimental. This is due in great part to the fact that we are now able to freeze eggs with a process called vitrification instead of the slow freeze that was the standard before. Our success with egg freezing in women under the age of 40 has been quite high. However, in women over the age of 40, it is still considered an experimental procedure. The purpose of egg freezing is to allow women who need to preserve their fertility to do so, due to reasons such as undergoing chemotherapy or radiation which may otherwise destroy their fertility potential. Women can then freeze their eggs, undergo therapy, and if they are unable to conceive in the future, we can then thaw their eggs, fertilize them, and allow them to have children. Another reason for egg freezing is women who are young who don't desire to have children at this time and who do not have a partner. They can freeze their eggs until such time that they decide to build a family in case they are not capable to do so for different reasons, including advanced age. Egg freezing has allowed women to feel more reassured about their fertility as you know fertility drops quickly in women as they advance in age. Unlike men, they are not able usually to conceive easily after the age of 40. By having their eggs banked, they are able to pursue their careers and plan their future without worrying as much about losing their fertility.