Egg Freezing

Yes, egg cryopreservation is a well-established fertility preservation treatment and is considered safe for most patients. As with any medical procedure, there are some risks and side effects, which your clinic should explain clearly before treatment begins. Most patients recover well after the egg retrieval procedure, and egg retrieval recovery is usually straightforward, with mild short-term symptoms such as bloating or cramping.

The egg freezing process begins with ovarian stimulation, where fertility medication helps the ovaries produce multiple follicles. You then attend monitoring scans so your team can track how the eggs are developing. Once ready, the eggs are collected during an egg retrieval procedure and suitable mature eggs are frozen using vitrification, a rapid form of egg cryopreservation. This allows the eggs to be stored for future treatment.

Yes, you can freeze eggs through a treatment called egg freezing or oocyte cryopreservation. The process involves stimulating the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, collecting them during an egg retrieval procedure, and then freezing suitable mature eggs for future use. For many patients, freezing eggs is a way to preserve fertility and keep more options open for later.

Women who, for whatever reason, want to defer starting their families until a time when age may become more of a factor in determining success can consider egg freezing. We know that women in Ireland are starting their families at a later age, about 32. This unfortunately means that a higher proportion of women and couples will need assistance. At Thérapie Fertility we really want all women to be fertility aware. This means getting checked and learning what your fertility potential is, sooner rather than later. This will allow you to make an informed choice about whether egg freezing may be a suitable avenue for you to take.

Every month a woman recruits a number of follicles and eggs but only one or two grow to maturity and are released. The rest are lost. The purpose of the stimulation medications is to capture eggs that were going to be lost that month anyway. So we can reassure you that by stimulating your ovaries and freezing your eggs we are not compromising your future fertility.

One of the key factors influencing a womans reproductive ability is age. As women age the number and quality of their eggs falls (the same is also true of men and their sperm!). By freezing eggs at a younger age, ideally under 34 years old, you preserve those eggs and prevent their natural decline as you get older. You may never end up needing or using your frozen eggs. In fact, when it comes time for you to have children we would recommend using more natural methods first. But many find that having eggs frozen removes some of the pressure that surrounds important life choices and in turn helps to make them more fertility aware. And it gives a potential alternative route to your family in the event that you find yourself struggling to conceive. In short, knowing that you have your eggs frozen may actually assist you in conceiving naturally.