Egg Freezing — What You Need to Know

Who is Egg Freezing For?

• Medical: Before cancer treatment; POI / POF risk; genetic conditions affecting ovarian reserve
• Elective (social): Women who want to preserve fertility before age-related decline (ideal age: 32–38)
• Low AMH in young women: Freeze before reserve declines further

The Egg Freezing Process

1. Consultation and baseline scan: AMH, AFC, hormone panel to assess reserve
2. Stimulation (10–12 days): Daily injections to grow multiple follicles; monitoring scans every 2–3 days
3. Trigger injection: 36 hours before egg retrieval
4. Egg retrieval: Under sedation; takes 20–30 minutes; same procedure as IVF retrieval
5. Vitrification: Mature (MII) eggs are flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen
6. Storage: Cryostorage at our laboratory; annual storage fee applies

Success Rates — Setting Realistic Expectations

• Eggs frozen at 32–34: ~70–80% survival after thaw; ~5–7% per egg chance of live birth
• Eggs frozen at 37–38: Lower survival; ~3–5% per egg chance of live birth
• Recommended: 10–15 mature eggs frozen at <35 years for a reasonable chance of one baby

When You Return to Use Your Eggs

1. Eggs thawed on day of partner's sperm sample
2. ICSI performed to fertilise surviving eggs
3. Embryo culture 5 days to blastocyst
4. Transfer in a hormone-prepared frozen embryo transfer cycle