Fertility Preservation Options

Egg freezing doesn’t require sperm, but embryo freezing does. Eggs are frozen unfertilized and can be stored for use at a later date. This is a great option for single women, women in the process of finding a sperm donor, or women who aren’t sure if their current partner is the co-parent they are looking for.

Since eggs can be frozen without needing to be fertilized first, this gives women more control over their reproductive optionsl. One of the benefits of freezing eggs is that it can be done with or without a partner.

The main difference between an egg and an embryo is that an embryo is only created after the egg is fertilized by sperm, while an egg is simply retrieved from the woman’s ovary and frozen prior to fertilization.

Because just one egg matures with each monthly cycle, the process begins with you taking fertility medications (including injections) to encourage your ovaries to release more than one egg at a time. This is called ovarian stimulation and can help your body make more mature eggs that will be ready to be fertilized per month.

During egg retrieval, you will be sedated as your physician uses a special transvaginal ultrasound probe equipped with a needle guide into each ovary to harvest (remove) your eggs. This is a same day, 15-20 minute procedure. Your eggs will then be frozen using a rapid freezing method called vitrification. These frozen eggs can then be thawed when you decide to you are ready to grow your family. When that time comes, your eggs will be mixed with sperm to create embryos and then transferred into your uterus.

The primary benefits of freezing sperm are to allow a man to preserve his fertility by using his sperm at a later date. Another reason to freeze sperm: to give an individual or couple struggling with infertility, or a lesbian couple the chance to conceive. 

Common reasons men choose to freeze sperm also include advancing age, deteriorating sperm quality or low sperm quantity.

Egg freezing costs depend on a few different factors, including:

• Your location – certain cities (like New York) are more expensive than others (like Boston and San Francisco)
• Your age – those over 37 need more cycles of egg freezing to garner the same number of viable eggs as healthy, younger women
• Your health – costs may be lower if you’re freezing eggs due to a medical condition (i.e. cancer, endometriosis or a family history of early menopause)
• The clinic – prices vary between fertility practices
• Your insurance – each company has a different policy, so check yours carefully

To provide the support you need, we have created the Integrated Fertility and Wellness Program, with in-house holistic offerings like counseling, acupuncture, support groups, nutrition and more. Our goal is to relieve some of the stress you may be feeling associated with egg and embryo freezing and help you navigate the process with less anxiety.

Currently, there is no known limit to the amount of time cryopreserved eggs, embryos or sperm can be stored. They can then be thawed when you decide you are ready to try to start a family.

It’s hard to provide an answer about the ideal number of eggs to freeze because every case needs to be personalized to the individual patient. However, your potential for success does correlate with your age, which is why we encourage patients to consider freezing their eggs before age 32. 

While egg quality is more important than egg quantity, you should also understand attrition rates. Put simply, attrition means that the amount of eggs retrieved won’t be equal to the number of mature, healthy eggs (and eventually embryos) that you end up with. The attrition rate from a cryopreserved egg to a high-quality embryo is significant. 

Ideally, we like to have a minimum of ten eggs stored to give you the best chance of having at least one child in the future. Always talk to your doctor for personalized guidance and more information. 

In addition to your age, low ovarian reserve, smoking, poor ovarian response to stimulant medications, low egg quality, your genetics, and any existing disorders or diseases can impact success with egg freezing. Keep in mind, every body is different! Your fertility specialist can help you understand your personal chances of success.