Egg Freezing; Your Power, Your Choice
A Way to Take Control
Egg freezing is no longer a new concept, but it’s still an empowering option that many people with ovaries are considering today. Interestingly, the first successful pregnancy from a frozen egg was achieved all the way back in 1986. Since then, the technology has dramatically improved.
The Evolution of Egg Freezing Technology
Originally, eggs were frozen using a slow-freezing technique, but this meant only about half of the eggs survived the process due to ice crystal formation. This is why the tradtional advice was to freeze embryos instead of eggs where possible. The game-changer came with vitrification, a rapid-freezing method that prevents ice crystals and significantly improves egg survival rates. This technology was critical for patients needing to preserve fertility before cancer treatments, which can harm fertility. In fact, The Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne, where I work, was proud to host the world's first egg bank in 1994.
It wasn’t until 2012 that egg freezing was no longer considered experimental. Since then, its popularity has soared, with a 1500% increase in egg freezing cycles between 2011 and 2021.
Who Chooses Egg Freezing?
Many people assume egg freezing is primarily about delaying motherhood for career or lifestyle reasons, but research—including a study I’m involved in—paints a more nuanced picture. The number one reason women opt for egg freezing is lack of a suitable partner. This resonates universally — and with changing social demographics, including more women in higher education and careers, this trend is growing.
Egg freezing is also important for:
Fertility preservation before cancer treatments
Individuals taking medications that may harm fertility
People undergoing gender-affirming hormone treatments
Women who simply aren’t ready to have a baby yet
Couples starting their IVF journey but wanting to increase their chance of a subsequent child in the future
How Is Egg Freezing Done?
Here’s what the egg freezing process typically looks like:
1. Hormonal Stimulation and Monitoring
The entire treatment takes roughly two weeks. During this time, you’ll self-administer daily hormonal injections that stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs instead of the usual single egg released each cycle. You’ll attend the clinic 3 to 5 times for ultrasounds and blood tests to monitor follicle growth and hormone levels, allowing us to adjust your medications as needed.
2. Trigger Shot
Once your follicles are sufficiently developed, you’ll take a timed "trigger" injection to mature the eggs fully. Egg collection is then scheduled 34-36 hours later.
3. Egg Collection
Egg collection is a short, minimally invasive procedure done under light sedation or anesthesia. Using an ultrasound-guided needle, the eggs are retrieved through the vaginal wall directly from the ovaries. The procedure usually lasts around 15-30 minutes, after which you’ll rest at the clinic for an hour or so before going home. It’s normal to feel a bit tired or groggy after sedation, so ensure you have someone to accompany you.
4. Freezing the Eggs (Vitrification)
Once retrieved, the mature eggs are rapidly frozen using vitrification, preserving their viability for future use. They are then safely stored in liquid nitrogen until you are ready to use them.
Making it Work For You
One of the great conveniences today is that if you have a Mirena IUD, it does not need to be removed to proceed with egg freezing. We can also time the cycle around your schedule to make the process as easy as possible.
Egg Freezing Success Rates
The success of egg freezing largely depends on age at the time of freezing and the number of eggs collected and stored. For women aged 35 or younger, a typical cycle collects about 10 eggs, with 80-90% of eggs surviving the freezing and thawing process. Of those thawed eggs, 50-80% fertilise successfully and approximately 40% develop into embryos capable of reaching Day 5 (blastocyst stage). A woman freezing 10 eggs under 35 has about a 70% chance of a live birth resulting from those eggs. An impotant consideration is family sizing when determining treatment goals; for those desirous of more than one child a larger number of eggs should be frozen.
Success rates decline with age, which is why earlier fertility preservation is advisable. For women over age 38, egg freezing may be less effective, and other options may be discussed.
Overall, with modern vitrification techniques, the chances of a live birth from frozen eggs are similar to those using fresh eggs in IVF, making egg freezing a promising option for many.
Final Thoughts
Egg freezing is a carefully tailored, flexible treatment designed to fit your life while preserving your reproductive options. It is however not a guarantee and this must be understood. If you’re considering your fertility future, a consultation with a specialist can help clarify what to expect and what steps to take next.
