Egg Freezing

A woman's fertility declines and the risk of pregnancy loss increases with advancing age. Advanced maternal age is associated with a higher likelihood of fetal defects compared to younger pregnant women. In addition to age, a woman's quantity and quality of eggs can diminish due to factors such as underlying health conditions, medications (e.g. chemotherapy), and surgeries (e.g. ovarian cyst removal).

Fertility preservation is the process of preserving eggs, sperm, or reproductive tissue for future use in order to increase the chances of conceiving a biological child later in life. Egg Freezing involves the retrieval of eggs from the ovaries and freezing them for later use. This method is often used by women who wish to delay childbearing or who are undergoing medical treatments such as chemotherapy that may affect their fertility.

Who needs to consider egg freezing?

Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a fertility preservation option for individuals who wish to delay childbearing.

Egg freezing may be considered by:

1. Women who wish to delay childbearing due to personal or professional reasons, such as pursuing education or career goals, or waiting for the right partner.
2. Women who are diagnosed with a medical condition that could affect fertility, such as cancer or a genetic disorder, and need to undergo treatments that may negatively impact their fertility.
3. Women undergoing fertility treatments, such as IVF, who produce a large number of eggs and wish to preserve their eggs for future use.
4. Women with a family history of early menopause or premature ovarian failure.
5. Women who are planning to undergo gender reassignment surgery and wish to preserve their fertility before starting hormone therapy.

Egg freezing process:

Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a method of fertility preservation that involves the retrieval and freezing of a woman's eggs for later use. The entire process takes about 2-3 weeks, depending on how the ovaries respond to the medications.

This procedure is typically performed as part of an in vitro fertilisation (IVF) cycle, and involves several steps:

1. Ovarian stimulation: Medications are used to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. This is typically done through a series of injections over the course of several days.
2. Egg retrieval: Once the eggs have matured, they are retrieved from the ovaries using a needle guided by ultrasound. This is typically done under sedation or anaesthesia to minimize discomfort.
3. Egg freezing: The retrieved eggs are then frozen using a process called vitrification, which involves rapidly cooling the eggs to prevent the formation of ice crystals that can damage the eggs.
4. Storage: The frozen eggs are stored in a specialized facility, typically in liquid nitrogen, until they are needed.
5. Thawing and fertilization: When the woman is ready to use the eggs, they are thawed and fertilized in the laboratory using a process called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), in which a single sperm is injected directly into the egg.
6. Embryo transfer: After fertilization, the resulting embryos are transferred into the woman's uterus in a procedure similar to traditional IVF.

When is the best timing for egg freezing?

The best timing for egg freezing depends on several factors, including your age, fertility status, and future fertility goals.

In general, women are born with a fixed number of eggs, and the quality and quantity of eggs decline as they age. Therefore, the younger a woman is when she freezes her eggs, the higher the chance of success when using those eggs in the future.

It is recommended that women consider freezing their eggs before the age of 35, as the quality and quantity of eggs start to decline rapidly after this age. However, the optimal age for egg freezing may vary depending on individual circumstances, such as medical history, fertility status, and future fertility goals.

How long can the frozen eggs be stored?

With the advancements in oocyte cryopreservation techniques, modern women have the option to freeze their eggs at a young and optimal age for future pregnancy planning. However, it is important to note that eggs can only be stored for a maximum of 10 years in Hong Kong (or till 55 years old for cancer patients, for whichever is the longest duration). Therefore, it is advised that women should not undergo egg freezing too early or too late. 

For women who aspire to become mothers, freezing eggs can be considered as a proactive way of securing reproductivity. When the woman is ready for pregnancy in the future, the stored eggs can be thawed and used for in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

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