Do you know what is egg freezing? Egg freezing is also known as oocyte cryopreservation. It is a medical procedure where a woman’s eggs are extracted, frozen, and stored for future use. It helps women to preserve their fertility and plan to become a mother on their own timeline. This technique is especially helpful for women who are not ready to conceive due to many reasons. It can include personal, medical, or professional reasons. In this process, when the woman is ready to conceive, the frozen eggs can be thawed, fertilized with sperm, and implanted into the uterus through IVF.
At RISAA IVF, Dr. Rita Bakshi, senior IVF specialist, has helped many families. We provide advanced treatment options to every woman’s needs. In this blog, we will help you through everything you need to know about egg freezing. We will discuss how it works, who should consider it, the success rate, cost, and more.
Egg Freezing Meaning
What is egg freezing? Egg freezing is also known as oocyte cryopreservation. It means preserving a woman’s unfertilized eggs by cooling them to sub-zero temperatures. This helps women to use their frozen eggs later and grow their family.
It’s a way to protect a woman’s fertility, especially when she’s not ready to become a mother due to many factors. There can be personal, health, or professional reasons. The most beneficial thing is that the eggs remain biologically the same age as when they were collected. This also helps to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy in the future.
This technique has become increasingly popular among those who want to delay becoming a mother without compromising fertility. In the next sections of this blog, we’ll explain everything in detail. We will include how the procedure works, who should go for it, and what to expect at each step.
Egg Freezing Age Limit
Egg freezing works best when it’s done at a younger age. It’s better if done between 25 to 35 years because egg quality and quantity are higher during this time. However, women can choose to freeze their eggs up to the age of 40. It totally depends on their overall health and ovarian reserve.
Most fertility experts recommend not waiting too long. Because the chances of a successful pregnancy using frozen eggs are much higher when the eggs were collected at a younger age. In India, clinics usually allow egg freezing up to age 45. However, the success rate declines as the age increases. It’s always best to consult a fertility specialist to understand the right time for you.
Egg Freezing Process
What is egg freezing and its process? The process of egg freezing is a safe medical procedure. It helps women to preserve their eggs for future use and extend their family whenever they want. The entire egg freezing process usually takes about 10 to 14 days. It is usually done under expert medical supervision. Here is the step by step process of egg freezing mentioned below:
- Ovarian Stimulation: Hormone injections are given for 8–12 days to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs.
- Monitoring: Regular ultrasounds and blood tests are done to check egg development.
- Egg Collection: When the eggs are mature, they are gently retrieved from the ovaries. This is done through a minor surgical procedure under anesthesia.
- Freezing: The mature eggs are frozen using a method called vitrification and stored safely in a lab.
- Storage: The frozen eggs can be stored for several years and used whenever the woman is ready for pregnancy.
Who Can Choose to Freeze their Eggs?
What Is Egg Freezing and who can choose to freeze their eggs? Egg freezing is a good option for those who want to plan their future but are not ready for pregnancy right now. It is especially helpful for women who may face health issues or have any career goals. Let’s see who can choose egg freezing:
- Who wants to delay pregnancy for career, education, or personal reasons.
- Who have been diagnosed with cancer or other serious health issues.
- Women with a family history of early menopause.
- Women who are undergoing IVF and want to save extra eggs for future use.
- Those who haven’t found the right partner and want to preserve their fertility.
- Women with medical conditions like endometriosis that could affect fertility over time.
Important Note: It’s best to consult a fertility specialist to know if egg freezing is the right choice for you. They will examine your individual health history and suggest. You can also consult Dr. Rita Bakshi, senior IVF specialist at RISAA IVF.
Egg Freezing Advantages And Disadvantages
Egg freezing is a good option for women who want to plan their pregnancy for the future. However, like any medical procedure, it has both benefits and risks. It’s important to understand the advantages and disadvantages before choosing egg freezing. This will help you make a better decision about whether this process is right for you. Below is a table which will help you to understand the pros and cons.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Helps preserve fertility at a younger age | No guarantee of pregnancy success later |
Gives more time to focus on career or health | Cost of the procedure can be high |
Reduces pressure to find the right partner early | Hormone injections may cause side effects |
Offers hope for women undergoing medical treatments like cancer | Egg quality depends on the age at freezing |
Provides emotional relief and more choices | Some eggs may not survive freezing and thawing |
Egg Freezing Side Effects
What Is Egg Freezing and its Side Effects? Egg freezing is a safe procedure, but many women may experience some side effects. Most side effects are mild and temporary and are related mainly to the hormone medications and the egg retrieval process. It’s important to be aware of them so you know what to expect and when to talk to your doctor. Some common side effects are mentioned below:
- Bloating or mild abdominal pain
- Mood swings due to hormone injections
- Headaches or nausea
- Breast tenderness
- Mild cramping after egg retrieval
- Temporary weight gain from water retention
- Rarely, Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS). In very few cases, ovaries become swollen and painful.
Cost Of Egg Freezing
What is Egg freezing and its cost? The cost for egg freezing totally depends on the clinic and where you are located. Because fertility center charges and insurance plans can be different, it’s a good idea to speak with your doctor first. You should also check with your health insurance provider to understand the complete costs. If you are facing a major health condition like cancer that could impact your fertility, you might be eligible for more financial support.
The egg freezing in india cost generally covers the following points:
- Ultrasounds
- Medications
- Bloodwork
- Oocyte freezing procedure
- Egg retrieval process
- An annual frozen egg storage fees
At RISAA IVF, our goal is to help women preserve their fertility safely and confidently. If you’re planning to freeze your eggs, it’s important to know about the costs too. At RiSAA IVF in Delhi, the egg freezing cost is usually between ₹1,50,000 and ₹2,00,000. It covers the procedure itself but does not include the cost of medications and blood tests.
Closing Words
What is egg freezing? Egg freezing is a medical process where a woman’s eggs are collected, frozen, and stored for future use. It allows women to save their fertility and plan their pregnancy when they feel ready. In this blog, we have explained everything you need to know about egg freezing. We have explained the meaning, process, ideal age limit, and many more important points.
At RISAA IVF, Dr. Rita Bakshi helps women to take control of their fertility journey. Dr. Bakshi and her team ensure you receive the best care, guidance, and support. If you are considering egg freezing or want to learn more, contact us today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Can you get pregnant after egg freezing?
Yes, once the frozen eggs are thawed, fertilized, and transferred into the uterus, they can lead to a healthy pregnancy.
- Is egg freezing painful?
The process is mostly painless, but you might feel mild discomfort, bloating, or cramping during hormone injections and egg retrieval.
- Is freezing eggs better than IVF?
Egg freezing is for preserving fertility, while IVF is for immediate pregnancy — they serve different purposes depending on your needs.
- How many eggs do I need to freeze?
Doctors usually recommend freezing around 15–20 eggs to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy later.
- Is a frozen embryo a baby or just?
A frozen embryo is not a baby; it’s a cluster of cells that could develop into a baby after being transferred and implanted.
- What is the biggest risk of egg freezing?
The biggest risk is that not all frozen eggs may survive the thawing or fertilization process, which can lower the chances of pregnancy.
