Egg Freezing
What Is Egg Freezing?
Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a fertility treatment that allows women to preserve their eggs for future use. This process is ideal for women who may not be ready to have children at the moment but wish to maintain their ability to conceive later in life. Egg freezing offers flexibility for women who face personal, career, or medical circumstances that may affect their fertility.
How Does Egg Freezing Work?
- Egg Retrieval:
In this process, a woman’s ovaries are stimulated with fertility medications to produce multiple eggs. Once the eggs mature, they are retrieved through a minor procedure. - Freezing Process:
The retrieved eggs are then frozen using advanced techniques such as vitrification. This method prevents ice crystals from forming, which could damage the eggs. The eggs remain stored in liquid nitrogen at -196°C, ensuring their viability for future use. - Future Use:
When the woman decides to conceive, the frozen eggs are thawed and fertilized with sperm to create embryos. The developed embryos are then transferred into the uterus to initiate pregnancy.
Who Should Consider Egg Freezing?
At Poojan IVF, we recommend egg freezing in the following situations:
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- Ovarian Hyperstimulation:
If a woman experiences severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), it may be safer to freeze the eggs for later use rather than risk immediate fertilization. - Medical Treatments:
Women undergoing chemotherapy or other medical treatments that could harm their fertility may choose to freeze their eggs beforehand to preserve their chance of having biological children. - Unplanned Circumstances:
If fertilization cannot take place due to unforeseen reasons (e.g., lack of a viable semen sample at the time of egg retrieval), freezing the eggs allows for later fertilization. - Personal Reasons:
Women who wish to delay motherhood due to career, financial, or personal situations such as marital issues or other life circumstances can opt for egg freezing as a way to maintain their fertility for the future.
- Ovarian Hyperstimulation:
Advantages of Egg Freezing
- Fertility Preservation:
Freezing eggs gives women the ability to conceive later in life with younger, healthier eggs, increasing their chances of a successful pregnancy. - Flexibility:
This treatment provides flexibility for women to decide when the time is right to start a family without being constrained by biological age. - Peace of Mind:
Knowing that their eggs are preserved can offer emotional relief and reduce pressure on women who are not ready for motherhood.