Oocyte cryopreservation (egg freezing)

Oocyte cryopreservation (egg freezing) is a method recently introduced in the field of assisted reproduction. It is applied in cases such as:

• Women wishing to preserve their fertility and postpone starting a family.
• Women with reduced ovarian function or endometriosis.
• Women undergoing oncological treatment, and therefore being at high risk of fertility loss.
• Couples wishing to avoid freezing embryos for either ethical or religious reasons.

The cryopreservation technique applied is that of vitrification. The thaw-survival rate of vitrified eggs exceeds 90%. Cryopreservation of fertilized eggs is a promising method that meets the needs arising from the modern lifestyle of many women and can be of great asset in the field of assisted reproduction.

What Is the Best Age for Eggs’ Freezing?

The sooner the better. We usually set the age limit to 38. The first step of this procedure involves a thorough fertility and health assessment based on the woman’s medical history (hormonal profile, diagnosis of other health problems, etc.). If a woman freezes her eggs at the age of 35 and decides to get pregnant at 42, then her reproductive age is 35, not 42. In short, this method “freezes time”. However the most common mistake women make is taking the decision to freeze their eggs when it is already too late. Women at age 40 have less chances than younger women.