Egg/Embryo Freezing
Egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, is a process in which a woman's eggs (oocytes) are extracted, frozen, and stored as a method to preserve fertility. Egg freezing for future use can increase the chances of getting pregnant in the future.
Embryo freezing, also called embryo cryopreservation, is a process to freeze and store embryos for future use. An embryo is an egg that has been fertilized by a sperm. Frozen embryo transfer occurs when an embryo is thawed and implanted into a woman’s uterus.
EGG FREEZING
What to expect
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May or may not be advised to take birth control pills.
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Complete transvaginal ultrasound within 3 days of the menstrual cycle.
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Take fertility drugs such as Clomiphene (Clomid), Letrozole (Femara), or Gonadotropins for around 10 days.
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Be monitored by transvaginal ultrasound and blood tests for the development of the follicles to decide when to trigger for Egg Retrieval.
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Undergoing Egg Retrieval procedure which is guided by transvaginal ultrasound under IV sedation.
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Eggs will be frozen and stored in an embryology lab.
Who needs this?
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Social or personal reasons to delay childbearing
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Patients undergoing cancer treatments or surgeries
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Risk of premature ovarian failure
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Ovarian disease with risk of damage to the ovaries
Advantages
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Frozen eggs can be stored indefinitely.
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Can safeguard fertility prior to any surgery or medical treatment like chemotherapy.
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Allows individuals to store healthy eggs for future use.
More info
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May perform an assessment of ovarian reserve.
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An evaluation of medical history, laboratory testing, and storage consent agreement must be completed.
Q&A
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What is ovarian reserve?Ovarian reserve is the number of eggs left in the female. A woman makes all the eggs she will ever have before she is born, about 6 million eggs. Then at birth only 1 million is left because the eggs have already died. By puberty only 500,000 eggs are left. The egg count is constantly decreasing until menopause around age 52 when there are no more eggs left.
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What are fallopian tubes?Fallopian tubes are where the sperm and the egg meet. If the tubes are blocked, the eggs are on one side and the sperm on the other side. They cannot meet and pregnancy cannot occur.
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What is third party reproduction?Third party reproduction is when an outside person is involved to help build your family by either donating sperm, egg, or uterus to carry the pregnancy.
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How long does fertility testing take?Basic fertility testing for the woman will take 2 visits over 7-10 days at the beginning of the menstrual cycle.
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Is fertility testing covered by insurance?Some, but not all insurance cover fertility testing.
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Is it a painful process?Egg count testing is a vaginal ultrasound and blood draw. Patient’s experience minimal discomfort with both procedures. Uterine testing requires insertion of a catheter into the uterine cavity and the uterine cavity is distended with fluid. Insertion of the catheter and uterine distension can cause some cramping equivalent to menstrual cramping. Fallopian tube testing requires insertion of the catheter into the uterine cavity, distension of the uterus with fluid, then the filling and spilling of the fluid from the fallopian tubes. This procedure is usually quick with minimal pain if the fallopian tubes are open, but can also cause significant cramping and discomfort if the tubes are blocked.
EMBRYO FREEZING
What to expect
-
May or may not be advised to take birth control pills
-
Complete transvaginal ultrasound within 3 days of the menstrual cycle.
-
Take fertility drugs such as Clomiphene (Clomid), Letrozole (Femara), or Gonadotropins for around 10 days
-
Be monitored by transvaginal ultrasound and blood tests for the development of the follicles to decide when to trigger for Egg Retrieval.
-
Undergoing Egg Retrieval procedure which is guided by transvaginal ultrasound under IV sedation.
-
Semen will be collected.
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Fertilization with sperm on the day of egg retrieval.
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Embryos will be frozen at the blastocyst stage and stored in an embryology lab
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Embryos can be biopsied for genetic testing before freezing.
Who needs this?
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Patients undergoing hormone therapy, cancer treatment, or another medical intervention
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Patients wanting to delay pregnancy to a later date
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Patients undergoing preimplantation genetic testing (PGT)
Advantages
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Over 99% of frozen embryos survive the thawing process.
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Provides a higher pregnancy rate, compared to egg freezing.
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Allows Preimplantation Genetic Screening.
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Allows potential parents to choose the healthiest embryos.
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Allows potential parents to choose their best time to be parents.
More info
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Eggs from women less than 35 years old have the highest chance of resulting in pregnancy
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Frozen embryos are stored and monitored at the fertility center
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Can be safely preserved indefinitely.
Q&A
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What is ovarian reserve?Ovarian reserve is the number of eggs left in the female. A woman makes all the eggs she will ever have before she is born, about 6 million eggs. Then at birth only 1 million is left because the eggs have already died. By puberty only 500,000 eggs are left. The egg count is constantly decreasing until menopause around age 52 when there are no more eggs left.
-
What are fallopian tubes?Fallopian tubes are where the sperm and the egg meet. If the tubes are blocked, the eggs are on one side and the sperm on the other side. They cannot meet and pregnancy cannot occur.
-
What is third party reproduction?Third party reproduction is when an outside person is involved to help build your family by either donating sperm, egg, or uterus to carry the pregnancy.
-
How long does fertility testing take?Basic fertility testing for the woman will take 2 visits over 7-10 days at the beginning of the menstrual cycle.
-
Is fertility testing covered by insurance?Some, but not all insurance cover fertility testing.
-
Is it a painful process?Egg count testing is a vaginal ultrasound and blood draw. Patient’s experience minimal discomfort with both procedures. Uterine testing requires insertion of a catheter into the uterine cavity and the uterine cavity is distended with fluid. Insertion of the catheter and uterine distension can cause some cramping equivalent to menstrual cramping. Fallopian tube testing requires insertion of the catheter into the uterine cavity, distension of the uterus with fluid, then the filling and spilling of the fluid from the fallopian tubes. This procedure is usually quick with minimal pain if the fallopian tubes are open, but can also cause significant cramping and discomfort if the tubes are blocked.
