FERTILITY PRESERVATION

choose egg freezing for social reasons, such as delaying childbirth for career or personal considerations. Additionally, women may opt for this procedure if they are not ready to start a family but are concerned about age-related decline in fertility.

The process of egg freezing typically involves the following steps:

• Ovarian Stimulation: The woman undergoes hormonal stimulation to encourage the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. This is usually done with fertility medications.
• Egg Retrieval: Once the eggs are mature, a minor surgical procedure called egg retrieval is performed. A thin needle is inserted into the ovaries, and the eggs are aspirated.
• Cryopreservation: The harvested eggs are then frozen using a process called vitrification. Vitrification is a rapid freezing technique that prevents the formation of ice crystals, which can damage the delicate structure of the eggs.
• Storage: The frozen eggs are stored in specialized cryogenic tanks at extremely low temperatures until the woman decides to use them.

When a woman is ready to use her frozen eggs, they are thawed, fertilized with sperm in a laboratory, and the resulting embryos are transferred to the uterus during an IVF cycle.
Vitrification has become the preferred method for egg freezing due to its high success rates compared to slow freezing methods. The rapid cooling in vitrification prevents ice crystal formation and reduces the risk of damage to the eggs.
Egg freezing and vitrification have opened up new possibilities for women to take control of their reproductive choices. It provides a way to preserve fertility and extend the window of opportunity for conceiving a child. However, it’s important to note that success rates can vary, and factors such as the woman’s age at the time of egg freezing and the number of eggs retrieved can impact the likelihood of a successful pregnancy.
As with any medical procedure, it’s crucial for individuals considering egg freezing to consult with fertility specialists to discuss their specific circumstances, expectations, and potential risks.