For women – particularly those around the age of 35 – the choice to freeze their eggs is quickly rising in popularity. Kayleigh Hartigan and Michelle discuss their experiences with egg freezing. They shine a light on key things to consider and challenges that accompany the process. First, success rates and individual responses to treatment vary greatly. By appreciating these subtleties, you will be better equipped to choose wisely.
Studies estimate that women who are 35 to 37 years old should aim to freeze at least 15 eggs. This triples their odds of having a single live birth to 70%. This number increases as age advances, with 20 frozen eggs required for a 75% likelihood of conception for a 37-year-old. These numbers really show why it’s crucial to be strategic and intentional when it comes to planning for egg freezing.
Choosing the Right Clinic
When starting down the egg freezing path, choosing a high quality clinic is key. Kayleigh Hartigan of WSP advises first thinking about what is most important to you when selecting a facility. Things like where they’re located, how successful their patients are, and how they treat their patients all play a big role in how positive an experience will be.
Potential patients can easily access the national average of egg freezing success rates through the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) website. Watch out for clinics that engage in predatory marketing practices. That might lead them to focus on maximizing their profits instead of improving the care you receive. Dr. Zeynep Gurtin has a cautionary tale for you about clinics that hype their wares too aggressively. If they promise results or employ scare tactics, run— that’s a huge red flag.
“Overselling, talking about things like guarantees and ‘you’ll regret this if you don’t’ messaging – to me, that’s a massive red flag.” – Dr. Zeynep Gurtin
Women are encouraged to pursue clinics that promote transparency and offer clear information about their procedures and success rates. Finding a facility that is conveniently located near home or work can alleviate some logistical stress during this time.
Understanding the Process and Costs
In standard egg freezing, the process usually starts on the first or second day of a woman’s menstrual cycle. After starting treatment, patients need to self-administer daily hormone injections, with costs between £500 and £1,500. This is important because consistency is key. You should take your injections around the same time each day, though you have some leeway of an hour or two.
On the day of egg collection, women are put under sedation for the procedure. Under the guidance of ultrasonography, a very thin needle is used to aspirate oocytes out of their follicles. Though a significant portion of women experience pain during this procedure, it’s generally characterized as mild.
“It’s not pleasant, but it’s less painful than intramuscular injections such as those used for vaccinations.” – Wael Saab
Patients will need to schedule a recovery day off work after sedation to allow for full recovery. This process is traditionally done through subcutaneous injections. These subcutaneous injections utilize short needles to inject the medication into the fatty tissue located right underneath the skin.
Emotional Considerations and Support Networks
Egg freezing comes with an emotional cost. Michelle, who chose to freeze her eggs in 2022, shares the value of creating a village throughout this process. Friends and family can help offer crucial emotional support as people faced with the uncertainty of fertility treatments take their decisions one step at a time.
Prof. Melanie Davies cautions women to mentally prepare for potential disappointment, noting that while egg freezing can be a proactive step towards preserving fertility, it does not guarantee future success.
“You’ve got to be prepared that it may not be successful.” – Prof. Melanie Davies
As women opt for this option, they should take the opportunity to look at and adjust their lifestyles. Avoiding tobacco and drugs—such as recreational marijuana and cocaine—has been shown to improve fertility outcomes. Professor Joyce Harper explains why understanding both the number and health of eggs is crucial. She goes on to clarify that, even in the ideal circumstances, having a large number of frozen eggs doesn’t ensure you can achieve a pregnancy.
“You can have all the eggs you want and not get pregnant.” – Dr. Joyce Harper
This intricate process is one that takes a lot of time and careful planning. Women must go into it equipped with a greater understanding and accurate expectations about what to expect from their fertility journey.