WWhen I first told my mother I was freezing my eggs, she asked, “So my grandchildren will be kept next to some Häagen-Dazs?” (Very funny, Mum.) I am one of a growing number of women in the UK who have decided to freeze their eggs to preserve their fertility, although this, as will be discussed later, has clear limitations.
According to the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the UK regulator of the infertility industry, 170% increase This technology has been around since the 80s, but became more accessible in the 00s thanks to vitrification, a flash freezing method. Now celebrities like Florence Pugh And Michaela Coel openly discuss their experiences, and companies such as Meta, Spotify and Goldman Sachs subsidize the procedure for employees.
Despite growing awareness, oocyte cryopreservation – as it is medically known – can seem like an incredibly complex and intimidating procedure. At least for me it is. It hasn't helped that this particular part of the infertility industry has come under fire for its commercialization and lack of transparency. Here's what I wish I knew about egg freezing before I started the process.
Think of egg freezing as the first half of IVF.
Somewhat naively, I hadn't thought of egg freezing as a step towards a possible future. ECO. Just as in an IVF cycle, the ovaries are hormonally stimulated to overproduce follicles, each containing one egg. Once these follicles mature, the resulting eggs are removed under anesthesia and frozen. When you are ready to use them, they are heated and mixed with sperm before being transferred to the uterus, just like with IVF. If you're considering freezing your eggs, know that you're signing up for IVF if you can't get pregnant naturally.
A frozen egg does not guarantee a baby.
“You have to be prepared for the possibility that it might not be successful,” says Professor Melanie Davies, senior consultant gynecologist in the Department of Reproductive Medicine at University College London Hospitals. Some eggs may not survive freezing, let alone thawing, fertilization, or embryo transfer to the uterus. The best way to freeze your eggs is as an addition to your reproductive arsenal, advises Dr. Zeynep Gurtin, a faculty member at the Institute for Women's Issues. Health at University College London (UCL): “This gives you another opportunity to try to become a parent using your own genetic material, but it in no way guarantees that this will happen.”
Do your research to find the best clinic
You can search for clinics in the UK on the website HFEA website And I visited a website for advice on infertility issues.. Seen CEO Kayleigh Hartigan recommends brainstorming what's most important to you: Do you want a large clinic that sees a lot of clients but may feel a little impersonal, or would you prefer a smaller clinic with a more hands-on approach? “Call the clinic to find out if they are your type and if you like them.”
It is difficult to determine success rates for egg freezing because the procedure is relatively new. The best way to evaluate a clinic is its live birth rate per embryo transfer. You can see if it compares favorably with national average finding a clinic on the website HFEA website. Be wary of clinics that “upsell, talk about things like guarantees, and 'you'll regret it if you don't do this' messages—that's a big red flag to me,” says Gurtin.
Plan more time for this than you think
My egg freezing process took over two months as my initial cycle had to be interrupted because I was not responding to ovarian stimulation. Expect to spend approximately two weeks per cycle. You will inject yourself with hormones once or twice a day for about 8-11 days. This typically starts on the first or second day of your period, meaning the start date depends somewhat on your menstrual cycle – something important to consider if you're planning egg freezing cycles while working or traveling abroad.
You will have to manipulate the scan as you work.
To monitor follicle growth, you will be scheduled for regular examinations in which an ultrasound probe is inserted into your vagina. I ended up missing work to make an appointment, even though many clinics offer after-hours appointments. That's why it's important to find a clinic close to home or work: “You don't want to travel for an hour,” says Matilda Hayfilm director who documented the egg freezers leading up to the procedure. Hay and I ended up visiting our clinics about four times in 11 days. At the very least, you will also have to take a day off to recover from sedation during egg retrieval surgery.
The injections are surprisingly good.
Most women, myself included, are surprised at how quickly you adjust to injections. “Most fertility injections are given subcutaneously – they are injected into the fat under the skin and are short needles,” says Wael Saab, fertility consultant and clinical director of the Center for Reproductive and Genetic Health in London. You give yourself an injection in the lower abdomen – it is unpleasant, but less painful than intramuscular injections, for example, with vaccinations.
Don't panic if you're late for your jab
The injections should be given at the same time every day, but if you're an hour or a couple of hours late, “it shouldn't be a big deal,” Saab says. But skipping one injection entirely can jeopardize your cycle. His advice: If this happens, contact your clinic immediately. You may also want to take your medications with you. “Someone on my project wanted to go camping and put the medicine in a thermos with an ice pack,” says Hay, who used a bottle of Chilly's in a similar way.
Age plays a bigger role than you think
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, there is “not enough data» about the optimal age for freezing eggs. However, it says the live birth rate is higher among younger women. “It's not that your fertility is falling off a cliff. when you turn 35,” says Gurtin. “Many women get pregnant naturally in their 30s and 40s, but we know that egg freezing is likely to be more successful if the eggs are of better quality, and that quality is primarily related to age.”
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You may have to do more than one round
I was definitely overconfident that I would only need one round of egg freezing – I was 36 years old and had only received six eggs, meaning my chances of conceiving were relatively slim. Studies vary, but one study It is estimated that between the ages of 35 and 37, 15 eggs need to be frozen to have a 70% chance of having one live birth. Other estimates suggest that a 37-year-old would need 20 frozen eggs have a 75% probability. But according to Joyce Harper, professor of reproductive sciences at UCL, it's not just a “numbers game”. “Female fertility depends on the quantity and quality of your eggs, as well as your uterus,” she says. “You can have as many eggs as you want without getting pregnant.”
You don't have to go crazy with supplements.
All medical experts emphasized that a healthy lifestyle – a balanced diet, adequate sleep and exercise – is more important than expensive supplements. “The main thing is to avoid poisoning from cigarettes and recreational drugs, as well as alcohol and vaping,” says Davis. If you want to invest in supplements, Saab suggests vitamin D, folic acid and coenzyme Q10: “I tell my patients to start taking them as soon as I see them and continue throughout their treatment.” You should also stop taking the pill before your egg freezing cycle. “You'll have a better answer [and get more eggs] “Unless you're on hormonal contraception,” Davis says. The same goes for those taking testosterone as part of gender-affirming hormone therapy.
Beware of additional costs and medications.
According to the HFEA, the cost of freezing and thawing eggs is between £7,000 and £8,000. But it's easy to spend more – Luzia Broekamp, an Oxford PhD student who blogged about my egg freezing journey.ended up paying £6,700 for her first tour. She was initially quoted a much lower price over the phone and advises receiving final quotes for everything via email.
Many clinics quote an initial price, which may not include blood tests or scans. You will also be given a wide range of drug prices – anywhere from £500 to £1,500. This is because they vary from person to person, so it is best to build a financial buffer into your budget.
You won't be able to work out hard at the gym.
Being a gym bunny, I was upset that I had to give up weightlifting during my egg freezing cycle. Intense and high-impact exercise is not recommended to reduce the risk of ovarian torsion, in which the ovary twists on its supporting structures, cutting off its blood supply. However, this is a rare complication. Egg freezing is mostly very safealthough some experience mild side effects from the injections and after egg collection, such as fatigue, bloating or mood swings.
Egg retrieval is not as scary as it seems
On the day of egg collection, I was sedated and the eggs were removed from the follicles with a thin needle. “It usually takes no more than 30 minutes,” says Harper. As with any surgery, there is a risk of infection and complications, but you will usually be back home within a few hours. If necessary, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers and find out how many eggs were collected that day.
Feeling emotional not uncommon
Don't be surprised if all of this raises deep existential questions about the status and future of your relationship. “There are a lot of emotions like, 'I'm doing this on my own because I haven't found my person,'” says Michelle, a Londoner who froze her eggs in 2022. Talk to other egg freezers and build a support network, even if it's just a parent or a few sympathetic friends. Facebook groups such as Egg Freezing Support Community And Egg freezing support (UK) can also be useful sources of communication.
