Freezing your eggs is not a decision to be taken lightly. The subject is becoming less taboo and more frequently discussed. In this article, Dr. Zaki Sleiman, a gynecological surgeon and obstetrician, answers the most pressing questions about egg freezing.

Egg Freezing: What is it?

Many women turn to egg freezing to preserve them for a future pregnancy, for economic, social, or medical reasons.

Egg freezing requires a precise medical procedure. In practice, egg freezing involves three steps: ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, and egg vitrification.

Who Can Freeze Their Eggs?

Women who wish to delay motherhood to pursue their studies or careers, as well as those diagnosed with cancer, can benefit from egg freezing. It allows them to preserve their eggs before undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Similarly, women with a low ovarian reserve, even if they have not reached the age of 30, and those with chronic or genetic diseases that may affect the quantity and quality of eggs or cause infertility, can opt for egg freezing.

The Ideal Age for Egg Freezing

It is preferable to freeze eggs at 20 or in the early thirties to take advantage of the quality and quantity of the eggs, according to fertility tests based on hormonal levels and ovarian reserve examination.

The Steps to Freeze Eggs

1- Ovarian Stimulation: This phase lasts at least 3 weeks:

It involves stopping the menstrual cycle so that doctors can collect eggs simultaneously with daily subcutaneous injection treatments for 9 to 10 days. The goal is to boost egg production and maturation.

Subsequently, a series of tests are performed, from blood tests to gynecological exams and ultrasounds, to monitor the various stages of egg maturation and the appropriate time for retrieval.

2- Egg Retrieval: This is performed in the operating room under local anesthesia without surgery and takes approximately 20 minutes. When the eggs have matured, a needle is inserted vaginally under ultrasound guidance, and each egg is retrieved.

3- Egg Vitrification: Once retrieved, the eggs are immediately plunged into liquid nitrogen at -196 °C to preserve them.

The Cost of Egg Freezing

The cost of the procedure is about $1,800, while the annual egg storage fee is around $100.

Dr. Sleiman concluded that there is no guarantee of successful pregnancy. Many factors play a role in this process, and the medical world cannot provide definitive answers. Each body is different, so there is never any certainty. This method does not pose a risk of congenital malformations, chromosomal abnormalities, or pregnancy complications.