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Many people spend their lives daydreaming about getting pregnant one day. If experiencing pregnancy is something you might like one day, egg freezing could make your dreams possible when the timing feels best. Learn more about it to better understand if it’s something you might do to preserve your future.
Egg freezing is also known as oocyte cryopreservation. It’s the process of using assisted reproductive technology to save fertilized eggs (gametes) for future implantation. It may seem like a futuristic health care service, but it’s been around for decades. The first successful pregnancy using previously frozen eggs resulted in twins born in 1986, leading to scientific developments that improved success rates.
Experts recommend freezing your eggs before you turn 40, but doctors accept eggs after that age in certain circumstances. It depends on each unique patient.
Sometimes, the recommended egg-freezing age surprises people. There’s a general societal pressure for people with ovaries to get pregnant during their 20s and early 30s. If you’ve been trying to conceive and worried that you might be among the one in six people who struggle with infertility, you may still have plenty of time. Talk to a reproductive endocrinologist about whether you’re a good candidate for this procedure.
Getting pregnant later in life is optimal for people in many situations. They may choose to preserve their eggs if they’re:
It’s also perfectly acceptable to freeze your eggs if you’re not ready to have kids. A reproductive endocrinologist will run blood tests and sample eggs to determine if you’re a candidate, regardless of what’s behind your decision to explore this opportunity.
Egg freezing takes one to two months from start to finish. First, a reproductive endocrinologist will talk you through the process. Afterward, they’ll do an ultrasound and bloodwork to determine your hormone levels and the number of eggs you have.
You’ll then need to take injection medications to stimulate egg production. This takes around 10 to 12 days, which includes additional ultrasounds and blood tests throughout those two weeks to track your follicles’ health.
When your endocrinologist sees positive results, they’ll give you a trigger shot and retrieve your eggs at least a day or two afterward. Your doctor will use a transvaginal ultrasound to gather your eggs while you’re under sedation. They don’t cut into your pelvic region. Your surgeon will then place your eggs in the cryopreservation equipment until you’re ready to use them.
Egg freezing costs between $4,500-$8,000 nationally, but the final price depends on your chosen fertility clinic. It also changes if you need multiple rounds of the injection medications. The same research shows that the medication costs $4,000-$6,000 per cycle, so you’ll pay more than the average if your reproductive endocrinologist doesn’t see positive results after the two weeks of your initial round.
Keep in mind that storing your eggs comes with a monthly or annual fee, depending on your clinic’s storage process. The longer you wait to use them, the more you’ll pay.
Insurance companies don’t typically cover egg freezing because it’s seen as an elective procedure. Contact your health insurance provider to verify if this is the case for you. You can also reach out to your employer’s Human Resources (HR) department. The latest data shows that 16% of large employers provide coverage outside of health insurance. That number increases to 37% of big high-tech companies and 63% of Fortune Best businesses.
You should always know the advantages and disadvantages of any health care service before deciding if it’s a good step for you. These are the pros and cons of freezing your eggs. Bring them up with your doctor or endocrinologist to discuss how they may affect you, given your medical history.
The pain of wanting to have children and not being able to — whether due to an unexpected diagnosis, surgery or treatment — can shatter lives. Modern advancements make egg preservation safer and more successful than ever. Giving people the choice they deserve to have over their own reproductive health is life-changing.
There are always some risks to undergoing medical procedures. Egg preservation is no different. The process has numerous potential side effects like:
Talking to your doctor about these potential complications is crucial. You should know what may be likely to happen due to your health history before scheduling your first hormone injections with a reproductive endocrinologist.
People who have worried about their fertility fading with time know that it only gets worse as the years pass. It can become an all-consuming anxiety that disrupts your quality of life. Freezing your eggs removes it because you’ll know they’re viable whenever you return for implantation.
The standard description of oocyte cryopreservation includes one two-week round of hormone injections, but that isn’t definite. Your body may need more time and hormonal assistance to strengthen your follicles. The blood work results will show what’s best for your ovaries. You won’t know exactly how many rounds of injections you’ll need before proceeding to the removal process.
Saving your eggs for later can be an appealing idea for many reasons. Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss the pros and cons. Once you’ve read more about the process, reviewed your health history and met with a reproductive endocrinologist, you’ll feel confident about your decision either way.
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