Egg Freezing: Too Soon? Expert Advice.

Understanding Egg Freezing: A Comprehensive Guide

Deciding whether to freeze your eggs is a significant decision, laden with emotional, financial, and physical considerations. From selecting the right clinic and securing funding to determining whether to freeze eggs or embryos, there are numerous factors to carefully evaluate.

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Many women choose to freeze their eggs to gain the freedom to postpone motherhood until they are more settled in their careers or relationships. Others may wish to safeguard their fertility while undergoing medical treatments. Celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian, Priyanka Chopra, and Rita Ora have openly discussed their experiences with egg freezing, further raising awareness of this option.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) reports a substantial increase in the number of women freezing their eggs, doubling since 2013 and rising by 460% in the last 25 years. It’s well-known that egg quality declines with age, with research indicating a decrease in both the number and viability of eggs from around age 35. However, it’s easy to assume that eggs can be frozen at any time before this decline becomes significant. But is that really the case? Is there an ideal age to take the plunge and freeze your eggs, and is younger always better?

What Exactly Is Egg Freezing?

Egg freezing, once viewed as a last resort, is now a proactive choice for many women in their late 20s and early 30s who want to maximise their chances of becoming parents later in life. While it’s crucial to remember that there’s no guarantee of a successful pregnancy after freezing your eggs, it’s an option that more and more women are considering. According to Dr Moses Batwala, Medical Director at Fiona Fertility, there’s a cultural shift occurring. Women are becoming more informed and empowered to take control of their reproductive future.

The egg freezing process typically involves three key stages:

• Hormone Stimulation: Normally, a woman releases one mature egg each month. To freeze your eggs, you’ll receive hormone injections to stimulate the ovaries to produce and release multiple eggs for harvesting.

• Egg Collection: Once the clinic determines that you have enough mature eggs, you’ll undergo a short procedure to collect them. The process is generally quick and painless. Dr Batwala explains that the entire procedure usually takes 12 to 14 days from start to finish, with egg collection lasting only 15 to 20 minutes under light sedation. Most women can return home within two hours and resume work the following day.

• Egg Freezing and Storage: Finally, all healthy, mature eggs are frozen within two hours of collection using a process called vitrification (a rapid freezing technique) and then safely stored until you decide to use them in the future.

Understanding the Implications of Egg Freezing

Egg freezing has biological, emotional, and financial implications that should be considered.

• Biological Implications: You are essentially “freezing” your fertility, but there’s no guarantee of egg quality or quantity, regardless of your age. Dr Tim Bracewell-Milnes, a Consultant Gynaecologist and Subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery from The Lister Fertility Clinic, explains that before starting the treatment, you’ll undergo a blood test and ultrasound scan to check your egg reserve and have an appointment with a specialist to confirm that egg freezing is a suitable option. This assessment will provide information on the likely number of eggs produced per treatment cycle.

• Emotional Implications: The egg freezing process can be emotionally challenging, so it’s important to be prepared. Dr Bracewell-Milnes notes that many women experience a mix of emotions, including relief at taking control of their fertility, anxiety about the medical procedures, and sometimes guilt about “delaying” motherhood. Hormone medications can also affect mood during treatment, although not always. Fertility clinics should offer counselling sessions with a fertility specialist to provide psychological support throughout the egg freezing journey.

• Financial Implications: Egg freezing represents a significant financial investment. In the UK, a single cycle of egg freezing typically costs between £4,000 and £6,000, plus annual storage fees of £300 to £500. Dr Bracewell-Milnes points out that some women may require more than one cycle of egg freezing to achieve an adequate number of eggs, depending on their age and egg reserve.

Determining the Optimal Age for Egg Freezing

The question of when to freeze your eggs is complex. Experts generally agree that earlier is better, but it’s essential to consider the emotional implications and the cost. Some women in their 20s may be ready to handle the medical procedure and its emotional aspects, while others may not. Additionally, older women may be more financially stable and able to afford the treatment, which can cost between £7,000 and £8,000, plus annual storage fees.

Dr Bracewell-Milnes states that the legal minimum age for egg freezing in the UK is 18, although it’s rare for patients this young to seek treatment. From a biological standpoint, egg quality and quantity are best in the early 20s, but the decline is gradual until age 35, after which it accelerates.

If you’re considering egg freezing, it may seem urgent. Dr Batwala advises that freezing earlier gives you the best chance of preserving fertility for when the time is right. After age 35, egg quality declines sharply, which can significantly reduce success rates.

Important Considerations: Egg Freezing Is Not a Guarantee

It’s crucial to remember that egg freezing is not a failsafe solution. Dr Bracewell-Milnes emphasises that patients need to understand that egg freezing is an insurance policy, not a guarantee, and that natural conception remains the most successful route to pregnancy when possible.

Dr Victoria Sephton, Chief Medical Officer at Care Fertility, notes that according to the HFEA, the chance of having a baby from thawed eggs is around 18-30% for women under 35. While women over 35 can freeze their eggs, the chances of future success are lower.

Is It Ever Too Early to Freeze Your Eggs?

The answer is generally no. Dr Batwala explains that a woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have, and as she ages, the DNA in those eggs degrades, increasing the risk of miscarriage and chromosomal issues. For some women with a naturally low ovarian reserve or those facing treatments like chemotherapy or full-body radiation, fertility preservation in their 20s can be medically necessary.

However, while the process is relatively simple, experts stress that it’s not recommended if you’re not serious about safeguarding your future options. Dr Bracewell-Milnes states that the only reason to freeze eggs is to prolong a woman’s fertile period and potentially use them to achieve pregnancy. The potential issue with freezing eggs in your 20s is the high chance of not needing them, as you may decide to have children in the coming years when you’re still in your 20s or early 30s, and it would likely still be possible to conceive naturally. Therefore, the treatment may be unnecessary if you freeze your eggs when you are very young.