It is a known fact that oocyte (egg) quality and number decrease with a woman’s advancing age. This
concept is often referred to as a woman’s “biological clock.” Women are born with approximately 1
million eggs, and this number is substantially decreased by age 30. Genetic abnormalities also occur in
higher frequencies as a woman ages.
Oocyte freezing (egg freezing) allows women to cryopreserve their eggs for future use. This is a useful
option for patients who are interested in starting a family, but not at the current time.
Once a patient has chosen to freeze her eggs, she will undergo approximately 10 days of ovarian stimulation with injectable medications. The eggs are then retrieved and undergo vitrification. Vitrification is a freezing process that limits damage to the eggs. Eggs remain frozen in the current state until the patient is ready to resume treatment and become pregnant. Eggs are then thawed and fertilized and an embryo is transferred into the uterus.
Once a patient has chosen to freeze her eggs, she will undergo approximately 10 days of ovarian stimulation with injectable medications. The eggs are then retrieved and undergo vitrification. Vitrification is a freezing process that limits damage to the eggs. Eggs remain frozen in the current state until the patient is ready to resume treatment and become pregnant. Eggs are then thawed and fertilized and an embryo is transferred into the uterus.
