What Happens After Egg Freezing?
Written by
Arva Health Team
04-Jul-2024
What happens after egg freezing?
Egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, is a procedure that allows women to preserve their eggs for future use.
While popular as it offers us women the choice to delay pregnancy for various reasons, including career goals, health issues, or personal circumstances, the cycle involves medication, freezing your eggs- and then- the big question.
What happens to my frozen eggs?
This blog will guide you through the post-freezing process, from storage to eventual use.
Read on!
How does Egg Freezing work?
Before diving into what happens after egg freezing, let’s briefly recap the process:
Ovarian Stimulation: Hormonal medications are administered to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs.
Egg Retrieval: The mature eggs are retrieved from the ovaries using a minimally invasive procedure.
Freezing: The retrieved eggs are then frozen using a technique called vitrification, which prevents the formation of ice crystals. These eggs are stored in cryo storage devices within tanks of liquid nitrogen.
📚Suggested read: Things to know before you freeze your eggs
How are my eggs stored?
Once the eggs are frozen, they are stored in liquid nitrogen at temperatures around -196°C. This extremely low temperature halts all biological activity, effectively preserving the eggs for an extended period.
On your end, you may be asked to pay an annual fee to have your eggs frozen. This fee is based on how long you decide to freeze your eggs for.
How long can eggs be frozen for?
Frozen eggs can be stored for many years without degradation in quality.
Research has shown that eggs can remain viable for up to a decade or more, giving women ample time to decide when to use them.
What if I want to use my frozen eggs?
The first step is as simple as deciding, and then contacting your clinic about the same. Here’s a breakdown of what happens next:
Thawing
When you decide to use your frozen eggs, the first step is thawing. The eggs are carefully warmed to bring them back to their original state. This process needs to be done with precision to maintain the integrity of the eggs.
Fertilisation
Once thawed, the eggs are fertilised with sperm using a technique called Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), where a single sperm is directly injected into an egg. This increases the chances of successful fertilisation.
Embryo Development
The fertilised eggs, now embryos, are monitored for a few days to ensure they are developing correctly. Typically, the embryos are observed for 3-5 days before being selected for transfer.
Embryo Transfer
The healthiest embryos are then transferred to the uterus in a procedure similar to a pap smear.
This is usually done under ultrasound guidance to ensure proper placement. However, you may be put on medications for a frozen embryo transfer cycle, which helps In endometrial growth, such that it’s recipient to the new embryo.
Pregnancy Test
About two weeks after the embryo transfer, a blood test is performed to check for pregnancy. If the test is positive, the pregnancy will be monitored through regular check-ups.
What do egg freezing success rates look like?
Egg freezing success rates are dependent on many factors, but often include the live birth rate as a decision factor.
Age and Egg Quality
The success of pregnancy using frozen eggs depends largely on the age at which the eggs were frozen and the overall health of the eggs. Younger eggs tend to have higher success rates.
Laboratory Techniques
The expertise of the laboratory and the technology used also play crucial roles in the success of egg freezing and subsequent pregnancy.
What are some risks and considerations while thawing eggs?
Thaw Survival
Not all eggs survive the thawing process. However, vitrification has significantly improved thaw survival rates.
Fertilisation and Development
There is no guarantee that all thawed eggs will fertilise or develop into healthy embryos. This uncertainty is why multiple eggs are typically frozen to increase the chances of success.
Emotional and Financial Considerations
Egg freezing and subsequent IVF treatments can be emotionally and financially taxing. It’s important to have a support system in place and to consider the costs involved in the entire process.
Arva- where do we come in?
Egg freezing in India can be a confusing journey for the first time.
While there are resources around it, we at Arva specifically work on making these accessible, and making egg freezing affordable.
We start with our egg freezing consultation, which helps you connect with a gynaecologist and have all your questions answered on all things egg freezing.
We also strive to build all the resources, and have a network of non judgmental gynaecologists for you to connect with.
We’re making egg freezing a reality for millions of women in India, including you❤️
FAQs
1. How long can eggs be stored?
Eggs can be stored indefinitely, with studies showing they can remain viable for up to 10 years or more.
2. Does egg freezing affect egg quality?
No, the freezing process does not affect the quality of the eggs. However, the quality of eggs depends on the age and health of the woman at the time of freezing.
3. What are the chances of pregnancy with frozen eggs?
The chances depend on various factors, including the woman’s age at the time of freezing and the number of eggs retrieved and successfully thawed, fertilized, and developed into embryos.
4. Can frozen eggs be used for multiple pregnancies?
Yes, if multiple eggs were frozen and successfully thawed and fertilized, they can potentially be used for multiple pregnancies.
5. Is there an age limit for using frozen eggs?
There is no strict age limit for using frozen eggs, but it’s important to consider overall health and consult with a fertility specialist.
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