Freeze the eggs: all you have to know if you plan to preserve your fertility

The egg cryopreservation It is a technique by which the oocytes are frozen and preserved in liquid nitrogen at -196º, without this causing significant alterations in order to be used successfully in the future.

We tell you in which cases it is carried out, and everything you should know about the process if you plan to preserve your fertility through this technique.

What is egg cryopreservation?

The cryopreservation of ovules (also called vitrification or cryopreservation) is a technique that vitrifies at -196º the ovules, so that its quality is maintained without suffering significant alterations.

We could say that vitrification is a "safe to preserve motherhood", keeping the eggs in optimal conditions to be used later, when the woman decides to be a mother. In Babies and more Cryopreservation of semen, ovules and embryos: when this technique is used and how long the frozen samples last

At what age can I freeze my eggs?

According to experts, the most suitable age for vitrification of ovules is in the twenties, since after 27 years fertility begins to decline. In any case, it is not until approximately 35 years, when the ovarian reserve worsens considerably.

Preserving the ovules at an early age increases the chances of getting pregnant in the future and giving birth to a healthy baby free of chromosomal diseases linked to maternal age.

In which cases do you resort to egg freezing?

Egg cryopreservation is a suitable treatment for any woman whose rhythm of life or other personal circumstances does not allow her to be a young mother, but does not want to give up her dream.

The most common reasons in which women usually resort to the vitrification of ovules to postpone their maternity in the best conditions are:

Preservation for medical reasons

  • Women diagnosed with endometriosis, autoimmune diseases, collagen diseases or with a family history of early menopause.

  • Women of childbearing age diagnosed with cancer, which must undergo aggressive treatments that may endanger your ovarian reserve. With cryopreservation they could be mothers once the disease is over.

Preservation for social reasons

When the woman considers that there are certain circumstances in your current life (work, personal circumstances, lifestyle ...) incompatible with motherhood at that time. Freezing your eggs would allow you to postpone maternity with guarantees.

According to data from specialized clinics, the preservation of ovules for social reasons It has increased in our country by 261% in the last five years, with the labor career being the main circumstance.

Preservation as part of a fertility treatment

In Babies and more Assisted reproduction techniques: we explain each one

How is the process done?

The egg vitrification technique consists of two processes:

  • The first step is the obtaining oocytes, which consists of stimulating the ovaries through medication so that multiple follicles develop, and then performing an ovarian or follicular puncture to remove the ovules. The extraction is performed in the operating room and under sedation, and lasts approximately 20-40 minutes.

Before starting this first step it is necessary to know the ovarian reserve of women through a hormonal analysis.

  • The second step of the process is the cryopreservation of these ovules, which must be carried out in a stage of maturation in metaphase 2, and at ultrafast speeds, immersing it in liquid nitrogen at -196 degrees.

When the woman decides to become a mother, the egg is thawed and fertilization is carried out in vitro, using the couple's semen or donor semen. To do this, the endometrium must be prepared, which is the part of the uterus that must accommodate the embryos, and proceed to the transfer of the fertilized egg into the mother's uterus.

How long do frozen eggs last?

Experts explain that as long as the eggs are cryopreserved in the correct conditions and do not suffer any alteration, there is no specific time after which they cease to be viable.

How much does it cost to freeze the eggs?

As we can read on the web Assisted Reproduction, the price of cryopreservation of ovules is usually placed on a fork of between 2,500 to 4,000 euros, although it will always depend on the chosen clinic.

But in addition, the following additional costs must be added:

  • Hormonal medication to obtain ovules (approximately 1,000 euros).

  • The cost of annual maintenance of frozen eggs, because it is not always included in the initial price given by the clinics.

  • He fertility treatment cost (IVF or ICSI) to be performed once the woman decides to defrost her eggs.

In Babies and more The infertility business: how much does it cost to have a child if you can't?

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Video: Is egg freezing right for you? (March 2024).