Egg freezing is a critical decision to make, and it helps women who are not ready or cannot yet conceive to preserve their eggs for future use. It involves the extraction and preservation of the female reproductive eggs in a lab to maintain their viability for future use.
If you consider freezing your eggs, you should take your time to choose the right egg freezing provider. Here are some questions you should as beforehand.
Will I be dealing with a fertility specialist?
First, you must enquire about the doctors you will be working with. Fertility specialists have specialty training in assisted reproductive technologies such as egg freezing and IVF. While OB/GYNs undergo some fertility training in their residency training, you cannot compare them to fertility specialists. The best way to get high-quality healthcare is to see a fertility specialist with enough experience.
What does the cost of an egg freezing cycle include?
Ideally, you are looking for a quality but affordable egg freezing provider. Even though the cost of an egg freezing cycle may be listed openly, you must enquire what it includes. For instance, you need to ask questions like:
- Does it cover the consultation costs?
- Is anesthesia for the egg removal included?
- Does it include additional testing?
Asking these questions ensures you do not incur any surprise costs that no one told you about before signing up for the treatment.
How many eggs should I freeze?
Your age and future family goals determine the number of eggs you should freeze. Note that fertility declines with age, so if you are freezing your eggs at a later age, then you need to freeze more for a higher chance of pregnancy. According to research, if a 38year old freezes 15eggs, that equals a 60% chance of having a baby. To achieve a more than 85% chance, they would have to freeze 30eggs or more.
But the ultimate determining factor is your own family goals and the number of kids you want. A fertility specialist can help you determine a number that represents the best chance of pregnancy, depending on your age.
What are the chances of conceiving with my frozen eggs?
After knowing how many eggs you will freeze, you also need to know the chances of getting a baby with those eggs. The chances of conceiving with frozen eggs depend on your age at the time of freezing and how many eggs you freeze.
But an experienced fertility specialist should be able to give you an evidence-based view of achieving a pregnancy with your frozen eggs later in life. The specialist needs to be honest with you when undergoing egg freezing to help you make an informed choice.
What happens when I need to use my frozen eggs?
Although many women freeze their eggs with the hope of never having to use them, you should also know what will happen when you need to use them. Will the same team be involved? Does our facility offer the service to use the frozen eggs, or do you have a sister practice? Asking such questions can help you make an informed choice.
