Why does it make sense for a young woman to freeze her eggs?

The number of available eggs is not infinite. A woman continually loses her ovarian potential, especially after 45, so many cycles are erratic until menopause after age 50. By freezing her eggs, the young woman “freezes time” and retains the right to have children without the stress of not being able to have children due to advanced age.

What is the right age for egg freezing?

After the age of 37 the quality of eggs is not the same. For this reason, it makes sense to do the freezing before the age of 35, so that the frozen eggs have an increased chance of fertilization and pregnancy when they are thawed.

In which cases is egg freezing recommended?

The method was originally applied for medical reasons, to women who, due to cancer, need chemotherapy, radiation or other strong treatment, which destroys available eggs. Now the method is mainly applied for social reasons, to young women who postpone their family planning either due to a lack of a suitable partner or for career reasons.

How long does it take before the eggs are retrieved?;

From the moment the period starts in each cycle until the moment of ovulation usually takes 12 to 14 days. The same time on average is required for the preparation of the eggs to be frozen. During this time, the woman is treated with injections and monitoring the development of the follicles on the ultrasound, until they reach a size of 18-20 mm. Egg retrieval takes place 35-36 hours after the last injection.

Is it possible to prepare without drugs?

With the use of drugs, the number of eggs we will collect increases. However, in cases where the ovarian reserve is low or there is time available to retrieve one egg per month within the natural cycle, drug-free preparation or mild low-dose stimulation is a reliable alternative.

What do I need to know about egg retrieval in the IVF Unit?

Egg retrieval is done with light anesthesia, the so-called intoxication. The woman comes to the Extracorporeal Unit fasting and the doctor performs the scan with an ultrasound and a very fine needle through the vagina. The procedure takes about 15 minutes and is not painful. Embryologists examine the follicular fluid that is aspirated with the needle and collect the eggs to be frozen. The woman remains in the Unit for the next two hours for observation and can resume her activities the very next day.

How is egg freezing done? How long can they stay frozen? Are there losses at the time of defrosting?

Egg freezing is done quite quickly with the so-called vitrification method, i.e. vitrification at -196 degrees Celsius. Egg losses remain below 10% at the time of thawing, regardless of the years that pass. Characteristically, in our HEALTH IVF Embryogenesis Unit, the birth of a healthy girl was achieved from eggs that had been frozen in the MITERA Unit 10 years ago. Both the quality of the eggs and the probability of pregnancy are not affected by the duration of freezing.

Do the drugs used in the preparation cause cancer?

All relevant studies are reassuring and show that these drugs do not increase a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer or other forms of cancer.

How many eggs ensure a successful pregnancy?

The golden number that leads to a successful pregnancy depends on the age of the woman at the time of freezing. A woman under 35 will need fewer than ten eggs to have at least a 50% chance of pregnancy. After the age of 35 the required number increases due to the reduced quality, so the woman may need two or even three egg retrievals to accumulate the required number.

How do I choose the In vitro Unit to freeze my eggs?

The main selection criterion for any medical service is the scientific experience and safety provided in a Medical Unit, such as a Hospital or an Extracorporeal Unit. Especially for egg freezing and IVF as a whole, the equipment of the Laboratory and the experience of the embryologists are the key to success. The HYGEIA IVF Embryogenesis Unit is a Reference Center for all Assisted Reproduction methods with the safety and guarantee of the Hellenic Healthcare Group, the largest health service provider group in Southeast Europe.