Eggs Freezing And Storing - Know More About This Process!

Egg freezing is also known as mature oocyte cryopreservation. This method is used by many women so that they can conceive in the future. The unfertilized eggs from a woman are harvested and then frozen in this method. 

In the future, the egg is thawed and combined with a sperm in a lab. Once the combination takes place, it is implanted in a woman’s uterus. 

When should you opt for it?

You can opt for this if you don’t want to conceive right now but want to get pregnant at a later date. Note that you will need to take fertility drugs so that your body produces multiple eggs that can be retrieved. 

Here are some instances where egg freezing and storing is a good option –

• You require treatment procedures like chemotherapy that can impact your fertility. In such cases, you can have your eggs frozen before the procedure so that you possibility to conceive later won’t be hampered.

• If you have conditions like sickle cell anaemia or lupus that affects your fertility.

• Freezing eggs in your youth may help you conceive at a later age by bypassing the effect of age and time on your fertility. This is also called social egg freezing. This is generally done if a woman wants to delay pregnancy for non-medical reasons. 

• If you are undergoing in vitro fertilization.

How is it done?

The process starts with the stimulation of your ovaries. Here drugs will be given to you to help your body ovulate and produce many eggs instead of one egg that happens usually. You will be under observation during the procedure for the doctor to determine how your body responds to the medication. You will undergo ultrasound tests to determine if your egg follicles are ready.

Once the follicles reach maturity, egg retrieval is carried out. You will be sedated and an ultrasound probe will be inserted into the vagina to detect the follicles. Once identified, a needle with a suction device is guided to the follicle through the vagina to remove the eggs. You may experience cramping and a feeling of fullness for a few weeks post-procedure due to the enlarged ovaries.

Once the eggs are harvested, they are frozen at subzero temperatures and preserved. This process is called vitrification. 

Post-procedure

Once the procedure is complete, you can return to your normal activities within 10 days. You should consult a doctor if you notice symptoms of fever, stomach pain, vaginal bleeding and have trouble urinating.