What is egg freezing?
Egg freezing is a process in which eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and preserved for future use. You may choose to delay parenthood for any number of reasons, whether it’s a medical diagnosis, professional goals, family medical history, or simply a desire to have a child later in life. Some people may need to do this urgently because of a medical diagnosis, such as cancer, where the treatment may be harmful to eggs.
Our Center of Excellence in Fertility Preservation
Pacific Northwest Fertility’s Center for Fertility Preservation is directed by Dr. Julie Lamb, who is recognized as a leader in the field. Dr. Lamb has published extensive research on fertility preservation and is a passionate advocate for egg freezing. She is the author of a patient-centered guide to testing and treatment, The Fertility Experts’ Guide to Egg Freezing: Everything You Need to Know About Putting Your Fertility on Ice.
Our Center for Fertility Preservation is one of our four Centers of Excellence, which represent areas of deep focus and investment within our practice in order to bring our patients unmatched care and the latest advancements in each specialty.
How egg freezing works
The egg freezing process always begins with an initial consultation, ultrasound, and bloodwork so your doctor can assess the best steps forward. You will be given hormonal medications for 9 to 14 days to stimulate ovaries to produce multiple eggs (instead of just one in a standard menstrual cycle) before eggs are retrieved. During this time you’ll be monitored closely with ultrasounds and blood tests to make sure your hormones are at an appropriate level for your procedure. Procedures are usually scheduled 11-16 days after medications start and are done under anesthesia.
This is a simple procedure performed by our expert doctors that involves inserting a thin ultrasound-guided needle into your ovaries to retrieve eggs. You will be under anesthesia for the whole process which takes about 20 minutes. Afterwards you may feel cramping, bloating, abdominal distention, and constipation. These side effects usually resolve 5-7 days after the procedure or by your next menstrual period. Most people need 1-2 days to recover after the egg retrieval.
Once your eggs are in our lab, our expert embryologists will select mature eggs to be frozen via vitrification, a method of rapid freezing. Access to your frozen egg data will always be available to you. Frozen eggs can be successfully stored for many years, until you are ready to use them.
When you are ready to try to conceive, your eggs will be thawed and fertilized in the lab using partner or donor sperm. The resulting embryo can be transferred into your uterus, the uterus of the partner carrying the pregnancy, or the uterus of a gestational surrogate. Preparing for the embryo transfer often requires hormones and ultrasound monitoring. An embryo transfer is similar to a pap smear and does not require any anesthesia.
Egg freezing can give you autonomy over your own fertility timeline. We typically recommend freezing before the age of 40, with the late 20s to mid 30s being the best time to freeze. That being said, every patient is unique, and we are happy to meet to discuss your options.
Freezing your eggs before undergoing medical treatments or procedures that impact fertility can also be a valuable option for those who want to preserve their fertility while caring for their own health. If your doctor or oncologist has talked with you about preserving your fertility, please call us at 206-515-0000 to begin discussing your unique needs.
Egg freezing success with Pacific Northwest Fertility
Pacific Northwest Fertility has been successfully freezing eggs since 2009, and was one of the first fertility clinics to do so.
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Paying for egg freezing
Though coverage for fertility care varies widely by insurance plan, the good news is that you have options. Egg freezing for fertility preservation is often not covered by insurance, but may be included if your insurance plan covers infertility and you are facing a medical treatment that will compromise your fertility. We are committed to guiding you through your insurance benefits, out-of-pocket expenses, and other financing options every step of the way. With Pacific Northwest Fertility you will never be in the dark about cost.
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We do not have an age limit for egg freezing. Everyone is different and every circumstance is unique. However, our doctors will discuss success rates with each patient based on age and egg supply and will help you make a decision that is worthwhile for you.
Once your egg quantity and quality is determined, your doctor will advise you on your egg freezing success based on a number of factors, including your age. Some patients may choose to go through multiple rounds to get enough eggs to reach their goals. We encourage every patient to do what is best for them, and we will be transparent throughout the entire process so you can move forward feeling the best you can about your future fertility.
There are no known long-term side effects, including no long-term risk of ovarian or breast cancer, infertility, or early menopause. Many patients experience some side effects from the hormones used in this process including headaches, fatigue, irritability, bloating, nausea, and constipation. These side effects will cease after the process is completed.
Typically you will be seen 4-5 times within a two-week period while you are on hormones. You will usually not need to be seen after the eggs are retrieved.
We recommend avoiding alcohol, smoking, drugs, and marijuana as you prepare for the cycle and complete the cycle. Toward the end of the cycle we will tell you to avoid strenuous exercise and intercourse for about a week until you are fully recovered after your procedure.
Please inform Pacific Northwest Fertility if you decide not to use your eggs. You will be given a disposition form and you can choose to donate your eggs to the lab, another individual, or discard them. Your doctor is here to help guide your decision.