If you’re optimistic about starting a family, but aren’t quite at that stage in life, you may have started to look at options like egg freezing. It’s one way in which women can choose to preserve their fertility. If you didn’t already know, it declines with age under the monthly menstrual cycle and process of Atresia – where thousands of a woman’s eggs are diminished every month. Fewer eggs mean a lower chance of conception. When women freeze their eggs, it allows some to be secured for use at a later time. We spoke to an egg freezing and IVF clinic in London to learn a little more about the process and have put this guide together to help you make an informed decision.
Is It Necessary?
Egg reserve is one of the biggest factors when it comes to a women’s chances of getting pregnant. Although it steadily depletes, it is not thought to really take effect until after the age of 37 – where there’s the greatest drop in ovarian reserve. However, it is worth noting that age will also impact the effectiveness of this procedure. Women who have the best chance of getting pregnant using cryopreserved eggs are those who are younger as their eggs are of a higher quality.
Reasons to Consider Egg Freezing
Women choose to freeze their eggs for many reasons. There may be a medical condition which threatens their ability to conceive naturally. If undergoing cancer treatment, you may be warned about the risk to your natural fertility and receive help to freeze your eggs. It may just be that you’re waiting till you’re in a more stable point in life. You may not have found the right partner or be in the right position financially.
Fertility is individual and can vary depending on a range of factors which is why we recommend speaking to a professional on the matter. They will be able to give you an indication of what your egg reserve looks like and whether this process would be worthwhile based on your circumstances.
