Freezing eggs is a form of fertility preservation. This is suitable for women who would like to delay having a family. As one gets older, the quality and the number of eggs decline, therefore it is best to do the egg freezing when a woman is younger. When she decides to have a family, these frozen eggs can be thawed and fertilized to form an embryo which is transferred back to the uterus.
The process of egg freezing involved following steps:
- Ovarian Stimulation: This is when woman injects medication on a daily basis that stimulates the growth of the follicles (fluid-filled sacs that contain eggs)
- Monitoring: takes about 12 days where the growth of the follicles is monitored by ultrasound scans
- Egg Collection: A procedure which takes place after two weeks of stimulation; this is done under sedation (light general anaesthesia) . It usually takes about 10-15 minutes. The recovery is fairly quick. You may feel some mild discomfort after the procedure which oftentimes resolves after a couple of days.
The process of thawing and fertilisation happens when she has decided to make a family.