Medicosnext
Humans have gained immensely from the advancement of science and technology, and now they even have the power to control their fertility. Both the eggs and sperm can be frozen and used when needed.
Eggs freezing is a new way of delaying a woman’s pregnancy, it allows a woman to have her own genetic child in later life even after menopause. Freezing of eggs has been available for about five to six years now, as vitrification techniques have made the success rates for actual conception more reliable.
Who can freeze eggs?
Educational and financial pressures often lead a woman to delay starting her family, and by the time they plan to have a baby, probably in their mid-thirties or late -thirties, the success of pregnancy is very low, because it has already been proved that a woman’s fecundity decreases as her age increases. With increase in age, the chances of congenital anomaly babies and miscarriages increase. For example, if a woman freezes her eggs at a younger age and then plans her pregnancy in her late-thirties with those frozen eggs, the quality of those eggs, and hence her embryos, will be younger than at her age.
So, freezing a woman’s eggs literally “freezes in time” her fertility potential and gives her a chance to have her own genetic child at her own convenience Not only for career-orientated women, eggs freezing can also be done for women who have certain diseases like cancer. They can freeze their eggs, and then start their chemotherapy. Later on, she can try for pregnancy with her own frozen eggs.
Eggs freezing is also offered to those who have surplus eggs during IVF, and wish to freeze eggs instead of embryos. It can also be done in countries where freezing embryos is illegal.
Up to what age can eggs be taken out for freezing? Is there an age limit for eggs freezing?
Yes, there is! Researches show that women benefit the most when their eggs are frozen before the age of 35.
How long can eggs be frozen?
They can be frozen for decades, and some countries have a cut-off age (of women) of 55 years.
How are eggs frozen?
First, a woman’s ovaries are stimulated with certain hormones, and after the follicles are of adequate size, the eggs are taken out with the guide of transvaginal ultrasound and stored in liquid nitrogen by a process known as vitrification . Studies have shown that eggs can be stored for decades, and babies born through these eggs don’t have any birth or genetic defects.
What is the cost of egg freezing?
The cost of freezing eggs depends on the stimulation protocols used for the stimulation of the ovaries, and also on the clinics offering this service. Most of the well-equipped IVF centers in Nepal, too, offer eggs freezing to those interested.
How safe is the procedure?
The retrieval of the eggs is done under short sedation. The eggs are aspirated through a needle, which is fixed with the probe of trans-vaginal ultrasound. The chances of serious side effects are very low, but rarely, there can be ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome (OHSS).This can cause mild nausea, bloating of abdomen, and abdominal discomfort. Nowadays, antagonist protocols for ovarian stimulation have eliminated the chances of OHSS. Pain and soreness of vagina are common side effects, which will be normal after few hours of procedure. This procedure is quite safe if done by an expert.
Are there any contraindications about who should not do eggs freezing?
Women who have metastatic tumor of ovaries should not freeze eggs.
What has been your experience so far about conception with frozen eggs?
In my clinic, we have been able to give pregnancies with frozen eggs, and up till now, no serious side effects have occurred, and babies born through these eggs are quite healthy. Before freezing eggs, one should be clear that all the eggs that are frozen cannot be revived back. We have been having 60% revival after thawing the frozen eggs, so one must have surplus eggs for freezing in the beginning.
How can one be sure that one’s eggs are frozen properly?
There is no particular test to ensure that the eggs are frozen properly. To be sure, you have to select a IVF center that has been doing egg freezing and has an embryologist having the expertise to do so.
Are you likely to get twins or triplets using frozen eggs for conception?
The likelihood of getting twins or triplets will depend on the number of embryos transferred, and not on the number of eggs frozen.
How long does the procedure last?
The stimulation of the ovaries will take about ten days, and usually, the eggs are retrieved on the twelfth day of stimulation; the procedure takes only about 15 to 20 minutes.
Time to time, we hear about celebrities in their forties or mid forties giving birth to healthy babies. Please don’t follow them blindly, rather, think that they might have frozen their eggs beforehand and were waiting for a rise in their career, or for the right partner to come along to start their family.
In the end, freezing your eggs give you peace of mind that your eggs are there with you whenever you need them to grow your family. Most of the IVF centers of Nepal offer eggs freezing.
