Egg Freezing

Helping women preserve their fertility
so that they can still start a family later
in life without worrying about their
biological clock

Introduction to Egg Freezing

Egg freezing is a procedure that consists of freezing your mature eggs (oocytes) prior to any fertilisation. Your stored eggs can later be thawed and fertilised with your partners or donor sperm during an IVF treatment at a time that is right for you in the future.

However, you should be aware that not all eggs will survive the freezing/thawing process. At IVF London we use the advanced technology of Vitrification to freeze the eggs which yields survival rates in excess of 90%. If you decide to proceed, your consultant can explain the procedure and risks in more detail during your consultation.

Why to Undergo Egg Freezing Treatment?

Egg freezing is provided at IVF London as a method of preserving your fertility for use in future treatment. Some women choose to freeze their eggs for medical reasons, e.g. they have been diagnosed with cancer or other serious illnesses which is likely to affect their ovaries and can prevent them from producing eggs in the future, or perhaps because they are at risk of early menopause.

Other women may decide for social reasons (single women or women wishing to delay childbearing due to career reasons) that they wish to preserve their fertility at an optimum time in their reproductive life, in preparation for treatment later on in life. If freezing for social reasons it is advisable to freeze your eggs whilst you are younger in age. The quality of the eggs deteriorates with advanced age notably after 38 years.

How Does Egg Freezing Procedure Work?

Similar to the early stages of an IVF cycle, at the start of an egg freezing procedure, you will be required to administer a series of medications to induct ovulation – this helps your body prepare eggs for collection. We will monitor your progress and reaction to these medications with ultrasounds and blood tests to pinpoint the time of ovulation ready for an egg collection procedure.

Your mature eggs will then be collected (retrieved) from the follicles of your ovaries during a short procedure at the clinic under deep sedation or anaesthetic. Your eggs are collected using a thin needle inserted into your ovaries and then sent to our laboratory to prepare them for vitrification.

You will be required to take a short time to recover from the procedure prior to going home.

Vitrification: An Advanced Technology in Egg Freezing

Vitrification is a revolutionary method in egg freezing that significantly enhances egg survival during freezing and thawing. Unlike traditional slow freezing, vitrification uses ultra-rapid cooling to prevent ice crystal formation, which can damage egg cells. This process transforms eggs into a glass-like state almost instantaneously.

IVF London utilises vitrification to preserve eggs in their optimal state, maintaining integrity and viability for future use. This advanced technology boasts survival rates of over 90%, making it a preferred choice for women preserving fertility. During vitrification, eggs are dehydrated and replaced with a cryoprotectant before being rapidly cooled to -196°C using liquid nitrogen. The precise and swift nature of vitrification preserves cellular structures, leading to higher chances of successful fertilisation and embryo development in IVF treatments. This innovative technique offers hope and reassurance for women looking to take control of their reproductive futures.

What Happens After Undergoing an Egg Freezing Treatment?

Once eggs have been frozen, their quality will not deteriorate whilst frozen. However, eggs cannot be stored indefinitely as per HFEA requirements, which set a limit of 10 years on the storage of eggs. This period can be extended in certain circumstances, in periods of 10 years up to a total of 55 years.

Eggs that have been frozen and are to be used for future treatments, after thawing, are injected with sperm as in ICSI/IMSI procedure to achieve fertilisation, prior to a viable embryo or blastocyst transfer into your uterus to develop as in a normal pregnancy.

What Are the Side Effects or Risks to Egg Freezing?

The egg collection is a relatively non-invasive procedure that carries minimal risk. However, stimulation of the ovaries has been associated with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Mild to moderate OHSS can be managed with pain medications and will usually resolve on its own within a couple of weeks. You may also experience some pain or abdominal cramping after egg collection, similar to that of getting your period.

If you are concerned about any of your symptoms, do contact the clinic for further advice. It is also worth noting that not all frozen eggs will survive the warming procedure. Eggs that are poorer in quality are known to disintegrate when defrosted. Typical survival rates of eggs after warming are in the region of 90%.

Treatments

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Why Choose Us?

Here are some facts about your fertility journey with us that we’d like to share with you:

Every evaluation and treatment plan is uniquely tailored to meet your individual needs

You will have access to leading professionals, with over 35 years combined expertise, providing you with confidence and reassurance in your fertility diagnosis and subsequent treatment

Our multidisciplinary team includes specialists in fertility, urology, nutrition, counselling, genetics, endocrinology, haematology and weight management to provide a comprehensive range of support as and when you need it

We will work with you closely to understand your individual circumstances, identify any problems and agree with you, the best course of action to help make your dream a reality

We will always be honest and open about your chances of success with treatment.

Your comfort and care is always our top priority

Our focus remains entirely on you as an individual, your unique needs and your wellbeing

All investigations and treatments are provided within our new state-of-the-art clinic based in Elstree which offers a spacious environment with comfortable surroundings, to enhance your care and experience. We offer investigations and scans at our satellite locations too.

Our friendly consultant-led team is here to support you at every step throughout your fertility journey

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