Egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, is an advanced fertility preservation technique that allows women to store their eggs for future use. Whether you’re not ready to start a family or are facing medical treatments that may affect your fertility, egg freezing offers a proactive option to take control of your reproductive timeline.
The process involves a series of steps—from initial consultation to egg retrieval and cryopreservation.
Here’s what you can expect during your egg freezing journey:
1. Initial Consultation
The first step involves meeting with a fertility specialist. During this visit, your medical history will be reviewed, fertility goals discussed, and the egg freezing process explained in detail. This consultation helps you understand what to expect and whether you’re a good candidate for the procedure.
2. Blood Tests and Scans
On Day 2 or Day 3 of your menstrual cycle, blood tests are performed to check hormone levels such as AMH, FSH, LH, and estradiol. A transvaginal ultrasound is also conducted to assess the number and quality of follicles in your ovaries. These tests help create a personalized stimulation plan.
3. Review Consultation
Once your test results are ready, you’ll have a follow-up consultation with your fertility doctor. Together, you’ll review your hormone profile, ovarian reserve, and agree on a customized treatment plan, including the type and dosage of stimulation medications.
4. Start of Egg Freezing Cycle
With the plan finalized, you’ll begin your stimulation cycle. This involves daily hormone injections for about 10–12 days to encourage your ovaries to produce multiple eggs. During this time, you’ll also receive instructions on how to self-administer injections and sign consent forms.
5. Monitoring
Throughout the stimulation cycle, you’ll have ultrasound scans and blood tests every 2–3 days to monitor follicle development and hormone levels. Your doctor will adjust medication doses if necessary to optimize egg growth and quality.
6. Trigger Injection
Once the follicles reach the desired size and hormone levels are ideal, you’ll be given a trigger injection (typically hCG) to mature the eggs. The egg retrieval will be scheduled approximately 36 hours after the trigger shot.
7. Egg Collection
The egg retrieval procedure is performed under light sedation. Using ultrasound guidance, a needle is passed through the vaginal wall into each ovary to collect mature eggs from the follicles. The procedure typically takes about 20–30 minutes and you can go home the same day.
8. Egg Freezing and Storage
Immediately after retrieval, the mature eggs are assessed for quality. Healthy eggs are then frozen using a rapid freezing method called vitrification. These eggs are stored in liquid nitrogen tanks at sub-zero temperatures and can be preserved for years—until you’re ready to use them in a future IVF cycle.
Final Thoughts
Egg freezing offers peace of mind and flexibility for women who want to preserve their fertility options. Whether you’re focused on career, education, or aren’t ready for parenthood yet, this process empowers you to plan your future on your own terms.
Considering egg freezing?
Schedule a consultation with our fertility experts to explore whether this option is right for you and take your first step toward protecting your reproductive health.