More women today are choosing to start families later, for education, career, or simply because the time isn’t right yet. Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) gives you a way to preserve your fertility while your eggs are younger and healthier.
Why age matters
A woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have. Both the number and quality of eggs decline with age, and this decline speeds up after 35. Freezing eggs “pauses the clock” for those eggs: an egg frozen at 30 keeps the quality of a 30-year-old egg, even if it is used years later.
What is the best age to freeze eggs?
The best results are seen when eggs are frozen before 35. Freezing in your early 30s gives a good balance between egg quality and the likelihood that you will actually need them. Women up to their late 30s can still benefit, but may need more eggs for the same chance of success.
How does egg freezing work?
- Assessment, an AMH blood test and ultrasound check your ovarian reserve.
- Stimulation, about 10 to 12 days of hormone injections help several eggs mature.
- Egg retrieval, eggs are collected under short anaesthesia; you go home the same day.
- Vitrification, eggs are flash-frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen at −196 °C.
At Meenakshi we use the Cryotec vitrification technique, which gives excellent egg survival rates after thawing.
How many eggs should I freeze?
As a general guide, women under 35 are usually advised to freeze around 10 to 15 mature eggs. Older women may need more, sometimes over two cycles. Your doctor will give you a personalised estimate based on your AMH and scan.
An honest word about success
Egg freezing improves your chances, it does not guarantee a baby. International bodies such as ASRM and ESHRE consider egg freezing a standard, safe procedure, and in young women pregnancy rates with frozen eggs are comparable to fresh eggs. But we always encourage women not to delay pregnancy indefinitely because their eggs are frozen.
Who else should consider it?
- Women about to start chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- Women with endometriosis or a family history of early menopause
- Women having ovarian surgery
If you are thinking about egg freezing, an early consultation is the best step. Learn more on our egg freezing in Chennai page.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult our specialists for guidance about your own health.
