Egg Freezing – MedCyprus

What is Egg Freezing IVF?

Egg freezing IVF is a process where a woman’s eggs are harvested, frozen, and stored for future use. The purpose of egg freezing is to preserve a woman’s fertility at a younger, more optimal age, so she can use the eggs later when she’s ready to try for a baby. This process involves the same initial steps as traditional IVF, except the main focus is to freeze the eggs instead of fertilizing them right away.

Egg freezing IVF is commonly used by women who:

Want to delay childbirth for career or personal reasons.
Are undergoing medical treatments like chemotherapy or radiation, which may affect fertility.
Have certain health conditions that could impact fertility in the future.
Want to preserve eggs before undergoing IVF to increase the chances of success.

Step-by-Step Process of Egg Freezing IVF

Initial Consultation and Evaluation

The process begins with an initial consultation with a fertility doctor. During this visit, the doctor will assess your overall health and perform fertility tests, such as blood tests and ultrasound scans, to evaluate your ovarian reserve (the number and quality of your eggs).
The doctor will also discuss your medical history, reasons for egg freezing, and expected outcomes.
Ovarian reserve testing might include measuring AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) levels, an indicator of how many eggs a woman has left, as well as an antral follicle count (AFC), which gives insight into the number of follicles (which house eggs) in the ovaries.

Ovarian Stimulation (Stimulation Phase)

In order to collect multiple eggs in one cycle, women undergo ovarian stimulation. This involves hormonal treatments to encourage the ovaries to produce several mature eggs (instead of just one).
You will receive daily hormone injections for about 10-14 days. These hormones include:
FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone): To stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs.
LH (Luteinizing Hormone): Often given alongside FSH to help mature the eggs.
GnRH agonists or antagonists: These help prevent premature ovulation (release of eggs before they’re ready).
During this time, you’ll have frequent monitoring through blood tests and ultrasound scans to track your ovarian response and egg development. The doctor will monitor the size of the follicles (which hold the eggs) and adjust the medication as needed.

Final Maturation of Eggs (Trigger Shot)

When the eggs have reached the appropriate size, you will be given a trigger shot of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) or a GnRH agonist, which signals the eggs to mature.
This shot is typically administered 36 hours before egg retrieval to ensure that the eggs are fully matured and ready for collection.

Egg Retrieval (Aspiration)

Egg retrieval is a short, minimally invasive procedure that takes place under sedation or anesthesia to minimize discomfort.
A thin, hollow needle is inserted through the vaginal wall under ultrasound guidance to retrieve the eggs from the ovaries. The procedure usually takes around 20-30 minutes.
Most women feel a bit of cramping or pressure during the procedure, but it is generally well tolerated. You may need to rest for a short period afterward, and you can typically go home the same day.

Freezing the Eggs

After retrieval, the eggs are examined in the lab. Mature eggs are selected for freezing. Immature eggs may be discarded or, in some cases, cultured for a period to try to mature them before freezing.
The mature eggs are frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen. They are kept in storage until you are ready to use them, either for IVF or for future pregnancy attempts.
Eggs can be safely frozen for many years—up to 10 years or more in some cases, depending on the regulations of the country or clinic.

Post-Retrieval Recovery

After the egg retrieval procedure, some women experience mild cramping, bloating, or spotting, which usually resolves within a few days.
Pain relief (like ibuprofen) can be used to manage any discomfort.
You may also be given hormonal medication to support your cycle, especially if you’re undergoing egg freezing for medical reasons (such as before cancer treatment).
It’s important to follow your doctor’s instructions for post-procedure care, including when to resume normal activities.

How Long Does the Egg Freezing Process Take?

The entire egg freezing process typically takes 2-3 weeks, with the stimulation phase lasting around 10-14 days. The egg retrieval procedure occurs at the end of this phase, and recovery is typically quick. Once the eggs are retrieved, they can be frozen and stored indefinitely until you’re ready to use them.

Why Choose Egg Freezing IVF?

Preserve Fertility for Later Use:

Egg freezing allows women to preserve their fertility at a younger age, when egg quality is typically higher, for use later in life when they may be ready for pregnancy.
It’s especially useful for women who want to delay motherhood for personal reasons (career, travel, etc.) or who are not ready to have children but want to keep the option open.

Protect Against Medical Treatments:

Women undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, or other medical treatments that may harm their fertility may choose to freeze their eggs before starting treatment. This helps preserve their fertility in case these treatments lead to infertility.

Avoid Age-Related Fertility Decline:

As women age, the number and quality of eggs naturally decline, especially after age 35. Freezing eggs at a younger age (usually in the late 20s to early 30s) increases the chances of having healthy embryos in the future, even if you are older when you’re ready to try for a baby.

Increase IVF Success Rates:

Egg freezing offers a backup plan for women who may want to undergo IVF in the future. Having high-quality frozen eggs from a younger age can improve the chances of success with IVF later on, especially if ovarian reserve is low or there are fertility challenges in the future.

Egg Freezing for Social Reasons:

Some women choose egg freezing for social reasons, to give themselves more time before starting a family without the pressure of time-related fertility decline.

Success Rates of Egg Freezing IVF

The success of egg freezing largely depends on the age at which the eggs are frozen and the quality of the eggs. Success rates are typically higher for women who freeze their eggs in their early 30s or younger, as egg quality begins to decline after the age of 35.

For women under 35, the chance of having a live birth using frozen eggs is generally around 50-60% (depending on the number of eggs retrieved).
For women between 35-37, the success rates drop slightly.
Women over 38 may experience lower success rates, as the number of good quality eggs tends to decrease with age.

It’s important to remember that egg freezing does not guarantee a future pregnancy. However, having multiple eggs frozen can increase the likelihood of a successful outcome when the time comes to attempt IVF.

Why Choose Egg Freezing IVF in Cyprus?

Experienced Clinics: Cyprus has a number of reputable fertility clinics offering egg freezing with experienced doctors, embryologists, and advanced technologies.
Affordable: The cost of egg freezing in Cyprus is often more affordable than in other European countries, the US, or the UK.
High Success Rates: With advanced fertility technologies and personalized care, Cyprus clinics offer high success rates for egg freezing and subsequent IVF cycles.
Medical Tourism: Many international patients travel to Cyprus for fertility treatments due to its high standards, lower costs, and easy access to top-tier clinics.

Things to Consider

Age: The younger you are when you freeze your eggs, the better the chances of success. It is generally advised to freeze eggs before age 35, as egg quality declines with age.
Emotional and Physical Aspects: The hormonal stimulation can have physical and emotional effects, so it’s important to consider whether you’re prepared for this.
Success is Not Guaranteed: Freezing eggs gives you more opportunities for future fertility, but it doesn’t guarantee a successful pregnancy.