First things first: Do I have a better chance of conceiving if I freeze my eggs?

Many women hope to become mothers one day, but circumstances don’t always allow the timing to be right. There are many reasons why starting a family may not happen. Building a career, finding the right relationship or simply waiting until life feels settled can all take time. But the quality of eggs declining with age.

Yes, if you want to delay pregnancy until later in life. Here’s why:

Age is the single biggest cause of declining fertility. As women age, both the quantity and quality of their eggs decline – and with that, their chances of conceiving. This process intensifies in the mid-thirties, becoming especially apparent after age forty. 

Obviously the speed of this process varies from woman to woman according to factors such as genetics, environment and lifestyle. But each woman undergoes it. 

So if you plan to try for a baby later in life, using frozen eggs that were retrieved when you were younger can offer you a better chance of success than using fresh eggs.

What is the best age to freeze my eggs?

When it comes to the best time to freeze your eggs, every woman is different and her fertility can decline more slowly or quickly than others based on factors like genetics, lifestyle and environment. But there are general patterns. Let’s break it down:

• Pre-35: If you can freeze your eggs before age 35, that’s the best option. Egg quality and quantity declines more sharply after 35, but is slow in the early 30s. 
• 35-37: Quantity and quality of eggs is declining but egg freezing is still worth considering if you haven’t managed to do it up to this point. Keep in mind that you should ideally retrieve more eggs at this age to have a decent chance of a live birth.
• 38-40: Live birth rates from eggs frozen in this age range are not high and you will need to retrieve considerably more eggs to have a decent chance – so consider it carefully.
• 40+: Here at The Fertility and Gynaecology Academy, we do not recommend egg freezing to women over 40 because it’s very unlikely to result in a live birth. At this stage, we’d counsel a woman to consider using donor eggs in the future if she wishes to delay pregnancy. 

The HFEA highlights age at freezing as an important factor in future success and cautions that egg freezing should not be regarded as an insurance policy against future infertility.

How many eggs do I need to freeze?

This is one of the questions women understandably ask – and unfortunately, there is no universal number that guarantees a baby. It depends on your age at time of freezing (assuming your ovarian function is otherwise normal). To have around a 75-80% chance of at least one live birth we may recommend:

• 15 eggs if you’re under age 35 (some women will achieve this number via one egg retrieval cycle; others will need more).
• 20 eggs if you’re aged 35-37 (many women in this age range will need two retrieval cycles to yield 20+).
• 25-30 eggs if you’re 38-40 (at this age, you may need three cycles to retrieve 25-30).

The questions every woman should ask about egg freezing

• What is my fertility status today?
• Why am I considering egg freezing?
• How many cycles do I need to undergo to guarantee a future baby or babies? One, two or more?
• What are my alternatives?
• What will happen if I never use my frozen eggs? Or something happens to me?
• Is egg freezing the right choice for me?

What is the egg freezing process like?

The egg freezing process is basically the early stages of an IVF cycle.

• Assessment: First you’ll be carefully assessed with blood tests, scans, and consultation with medical history-taking, so doctors can determine the correct dose of hormone medications for you. 
• Ovarian stimulation: After that you’ll be given hormone injections to encourage your ovaries to generate more mature eggs for retrieval.
• Monitoring: You should be monitored carefully with scans and blood tests throughout the stimulation process, to ensure your medication dosage is optimal and your ovaries are responding well.
• Egg retrieval: When ready, your eggs will then be removed under light sedation. 
• Freezing: Your eggs will then be frozen and taken into storage to be used in future fertility treatment if and when you’re ready. 

To use these eggs in the future, they’ll need to be thawed and then injected with sperm, creating embryos which will then be put into your uterus to develop and grow.

If you don’t need your eggs in the future, you can choose to have them discarded or donate them as you wish.

Will freezing my eggs affect my future natural fertility?

No, freezing your eggs does not affect your future natural fertility or ability to conceive naturally. 

Although the process involves retrieving multiple eggs at once, egg freezing will not decrease your ovarian reserve. 

This is because the egg freezing process salvages eggs that would otherwise die off during your normal menstrual cycle. The hormone medications we administer for egg freezing stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs in a cycle rather than just the usual one. These salvaged eggs are then frozen for future use as a back-up option. 

What are the risks associated with egg freezing?

Egg freezing is considered a very safe procedure. But all medical interventions have possible side effects and risks – no exceptions. With egg freezing you might experience:

• PMT-like symptoms from the hormone medicines – e.g. moodiness, breast tenderness, and feeling tired.
• Redness or soreness at your injection site.

• Possible mild vaginal discomfort, wooziness and cramping (similar to period cramps) following the egg retrieval – This generally passes quickly and is managed with mild painkillers such as paracetamol. The vast majority of women can go back to work the day after egg retrieval. 
• In rare cases the ovaries can become too stimulated by the hormone medications (moderate or severe ‘ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome’ or OHSS), causing them to swell. The condition may call for bed rest or medical treatment. But a good fertility clinic protects against this by meticulously checking your response to the medications to make sure you’re on the optimal dose. 

Are there any risks to the baby with egg freezing?

Research to date indicates there is no evidence of an increased risk of birth defects (such as Downs syndrome, heart problems or neural tube defects), when comparing fertilisation with frozen eggs versus fresh eggs.  

In fact, conceiving with higher quality eggs that were frozen when you’re younger, can lower the risks that come with older motherhood (like miscarriage and genetic defects). 

The HFEA states that a woman over 40 has significantly better chances of achieving a healthy pregnancy using frozen eggs harvested in her mid-30s, than with fresh eggs aged 40+. 

What’s the difference between egg freezing and embryo freezing?

Embryo freezing is when harvested eggs are fertilised with sperm to make embryos and then frozen for use at a later date. 

The ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval stages follow the same process as for egg freezing (see above). But afterwards, instead of freezing the eggs straightaway, they are mixed with sperm in the lab to make embryos, and then frozen for future use. 

Embryos usually have a slightly higher rate of survival than eggs. On the other hand, for embryo freezing you need an appropriate sperm donor who will consent to continual storage and future use. If either party changes their mind, the embryos must be discarded. With this in mind, many women feel egg freezing offers them potentially more control over their reproductive future. 

How long can I store my frozen eggs in the UK?

In the UK, you can keep your frozen eggs in storage for a maximum of 55 years. But by law, every 10 years you must renew your consent via a form.

Can I freeze my eggs if I’m on hormonal birth control?

No, you will need to come off your hormonal birth control for egg freezing. Your fertility consultant can advise on when to stop taking it. 

How much does egg freezing cost in the UK? 

Egg freezing cost in the UK varies, depending a lot on the individual patient (how many cycles you opt for, how much hormone medicine you need and so on). 

An egg retrieval costs several thousand pounds, with medication and storage being additional charges.

In future years, if you wish to have your eggs thawed and transferred into your uterus, that process will cost an additional several thousand pounds. 

Here at The Fertility and Gynaecology Academy, we believe in absolute transparency about fees and any possible extra costs, so that patients can plan. See our pricing page for more detail. 

Fertility is more than a spreadsheet

Fertility is more than numbers and statistics. Every woman has her own circumstances, hopes and timeline. Egg freezing may be a valuable choice for some, while others may choose to try for pregnancy sooner or not choose to freeze their eggs at all. The right decision is the one that feels right for you, based on informed, personalised advice.

Mr B Kale, Fertility Consultant at The Fertility & Gynaecology Academy says: “For many busy women, egg freezing is a smart back-up plan, but it isn’t right for everyone. Fertility doctors should never sell. A good fertility clinic will always be upfront with you about your chances of success and what the process could cost, so you can make an informed choice.”

Here at The Fertility and Gynaecology Academy, we are highly experienced in egg freezing, with decades of experience. Based in central London, we are home to some of the UK’s leading fertility doctors and state-of-the-art technology.

To find out more or book a consultation call The Fertility and Gynaecology Academy now on 020 7224 1880 or email info@fertility-academy.co.uk.