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From time immemorial, women have had to face the anxiety and fear of missing out on motherhood unless they conceive early. As more women have started focusing on building their own career and identity, the dream of a successful life has come in conflict with the dream of motherhood. But egg freezing now offers a solution that can safeguard a woman’s fertility while she chases her other aspirations and builds a life for herself. It can allow her biology to match with the timeline of her life without the constant worry of having to settle quickly or to conceive without being ready.
What is egg freezing and how does it work?
Egg freezing or mature oocyte cryopreservation is a procedure that tries to preserve reproductive potential in women by harvesting eggs from their ovaries, and freezing and storing the unfertilized eggs for the future.
If a woman wishes to preserve her eggs for later use, she has to first undergo an ovarian reserve assessment in a fertility clinic. She has to take blood tests for antimüllerian hormone (AMH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels followed by an ultrasound to check the antral follicle count (AFC). After this, the fertility doctor can determine how many eggs can be retrieved in one cycle of controlled ovarian stimulation. Gonadotropin injections are prescribed which are also used in in-vitro fertilization. The maturation process is triggered and accelerated by an LH surge and once the eggs are fully mature, healthy eggs are retrieved. The embryologist then prepares the mature eggs for freezing.
Benefits of egg freezing
Egg Freezing Success Rates:
The statistics suggest that egg freezing is a good idea particularly for women younger than 36 as a measure to safeguard their fertility. However, it should not be treated as a foolproof safety net since it cannot guarantee a successful pregnancy. The egg freezing benefits are considerable. So, if you are planning to conceive later in life and want to preserve your reproductive potential, consult our fertility experts at Manipal Fertility. They can assess your situation, provide support and advice, and guide you through your fertility journey.