Egg Freezing - What you need to know

Choosing to freeze your eggs is a personal, and often proactive decision. Whether you're planning for the future or preserving your fertility for medical reasons, this video explains how egg freezing works - and what the process involves at Braetha. Egg freezing, also called oocyte cryopreservation, involves collecting eggs from the ovaries - and freezing them for potential use at a later date. The eggs are stored at very low temperatures using a technique called vitrification - which is a rapid freezing method that helps preserve the quality and structure of each egg. People choose to freeze their eggs for many different reasons. Some want to focus on their career; education; or personal circumstances - before starting a family. Egg freezing allows more reproductive autonomy and control, over the timing of starting a family. Whatever your reason, the decision to preserve your fertility is one we take seriously. We will talk you through every step so that you feel informed, confident, and fully supported from the very beginning. The process begins by discussing and agreeing an appropriate treatment pathway and an individualised treatment plan. Your care and treatment plan will be carefully co-ordinated by myself and Elizabeth, ensuring that we can try to fit all appointments around your life, and work commitments. I will guide you through your medication, including how to prepare and administer your injections safely at home. We will be around to support you throughout this stage - you are never expected to manage the medication stage on your own. You will undertake a course of hormone injections, which you self-administer at home over approximately ten to fourteen days. These stimulate the ovaries to produce several eggs in one cycle. During this time, Mr Braithwaite will monitor your response with ultrasound scans, and blood tests at our Harley Street clinic. When your eggs are ready, the collection takes place at King's Fertility under deep sedation. This is a short procedure, usually lasting around fifteen to twenty minutes. The number of eggs collected varies from person to person, and depends on factors including your age and ovarian reserve. Also some people may benefit from more than one cycle. It's important to understand that egg freezing does not guarantee a future pregnancy. Success depends on several factors, including your age at the time of freezing, and the number of eggs stored. Your consultant will discuss realistic expectations with you before treatment begins. After collection, your eggs are stored securely at King's Fertility. Under current HFEA regulations, you can keep them in storage for up to fifty-five years. When you are ready, the eggs can be thawed and used in IVF treatment either with a partner, or using donor sperm. You can also visit the HFEA website for further independent information about egg freezing; success rates; and storage regulations. If you would like to explore egg freezing, or have questions about fertility preservation, please contact our team at Braetha - we are here to help.