Egg Freezing – Is it right for me?

Meron Yalew and Dr Matt Prior

2 years ago

With infertility rates on the rise, UK birth rates declining, and lifestyle changes resulting in the average age at childbirth reaching an all-time high of 30.7 years in 2020, for some, fertility preservation may be the way forward.

Since emerging from lockdown, it is no surprise with adverts all over public transport and social media that rates of egg preservation enquiries rose as much as 50%, and egg retrieval cycles rose by 39% in some clinics. So, what is all the fuss about?

What is fertility preservation?

Fertility preservation involves using various methods to maintain and prolong your fertility in the hopes of allowing you to have your own children in the future. There are various procedures available including egg/sperm freezing, testicular/ovarian tissue preservation, or embryo freezing. At one point or other you have probably seen an ad for egg freezing on social media, public transport, or elsewhere, but what exactly is egg freezing?

What is egg freezing?

Egg preservation or freezing involves collecting eggs, freezing, and then thawing the eggs if/when required to help individuals to have their own children. In recent years, the process of fast-freezing eggs, known as vitrification, has greatly improved the success of thawing eggs.

Knowledge is power when you’re a patient, and only when you are armed with the facts can you successfully advocate for yourself.

Before starting the process, you should have an assessment of your egg reserve and have screening for blood-borne viruses including HIV and hepatitis before completing consent forms. Injections of medication will stimulate the ovary to grow eggs over about two weeks with ultrasound scans used to monitor the growth. Ideally, around 15 eggs are extracted under sedation or general anaesthesia, but this is not always possible with one cycle of treatment.

A freezing solution (cryoprotectant) is added to the eggs before fast freezing (vitrification), or slow cooling and the frozen eggs are then stored in liquid nitrogen at -196°C to preserve the eggs indefinitely. In July 2022, the law changed allowing frozen eggs to be stored for up to 55 years though you will need to complete a consent form every 10 years to prolong storage of your frozen eggs.

What are the risks?

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is a relatively common complication during egg freezing treatment. The increased egg production can cause bloating, tummy pains, and nausea and vomiting. In severe cases, you may have fluid accumulating in your tummy, clots forming in the legs or lungs, and general swelling. If any of these symptoms develop during your treatment, it is important to seek medical attention immediately as this may be life-threatening.

How much will egg freezing cost?

For some individuals, the NHS may be able to cover the costs of the procedure. This includes individuals who:

Receive chemotherapy.
Are members of the armed forces and deployed to war zones.
Are transitioning from male to female or have gender dysphoria.
Are women at risk of premature infertility.

However, many individuals pursue egg freezing privately due concerns about declining fertility, or not feeling it is the right time to have children. According to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the average cost of private egg freezing treatment is £7000-8000, though there are variations from clinic to clinic and due to the storage duration. Depending on your line of work, some companies, such as Apple, Facebook, and NatWest have started to offer free egg freezing treatment as an employee perk to attract more female employees.

The reality of egg freezing

Egg freezing has proved to be a game-changer for women with many considering it a backup plan due to absence of age limit. It is an option that empowers women allowing them to delay conceiving until a more convenient time, for example, once they have achieved their career aspirations, have a suitable partner, or feel prepared to introduce a child into their life. In July 2022, the legal storage limit for frozen eggs was been raised from 10 years to 55 years though you will be contacted every decade to complete a consent renewal form. And should you decide you do not want to use the frozen eggs; you have the option of donating them to someone else or allowing them to be used for technique training or research.

What are the chances of having a baby?

Research shows that success rates at present remain relatively low with IVF birth rates of 32% in women under 35 years old and this success rate declines with age to 18% in women aged 38-39 years old. Many of those who store eggs will find they get pregnant naturally and will never need to use the eggs they stored.

Using frozen eggs appears to be associated with a higher risk of pregnancy complications and rate of miscarriage, but we don’t yet know why.

When is the right time to freeze my eggs?

Often egg freezing is seen as an option that eliminates concerns regarding age and fertility. However higher success rates come when eggs are stored at an earlier age, ideally before the age of 35. Success rates from IVF begin to fall after that point and freezing eggs into your 40s is far less effective.

It wasn’t a walk in the park, but it isn’t something to be scared of, and the positive outcome far outweighed any pain.

Most often the physical and emotional toll of egg freezing is not considered or advertised. Many fertility clinics now provide extra support through in-house infertility counsellors and support groups. It has been shown that up to 40% experiencing infertility have symptoms consistent with depression, anxiety, or eating disorders. You can seek counselling through your GP or privately via the British Infertility Counselling Association if you feel you need support.

Support during fertility preservation treatment

Check out these useful websites for support and information during your fertility journey:

Fertility Network UK
Egg freezing | HFEA
Gendered Intelligence – support for transgender people
GIRES – charity supporting trans and gender non-conforming individuals
Mermaids – help young people and children with gender dysphoria
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)

Warning For UK Women Over Physical And Financial Toll Of Egg Freezing

The Sharp Rise in Egg Freezing

The Egg Freezing Diaries: Why I – A Single Woman In My Thirties – Am Freezing My Eggs