Egg freezing is becoming a leading option as more couples plan to get pregnant later in life. Infertility treatment currently has a higher success rate today than in the past. Learn how cryopreservation at San Diego YourEggs clinic can help in your quest to become a parent.
Extending your reproductive potential with egg freezing
Egg freezing is a process of retrieving mature eggs and cryopreserving them for future fertilization. The eggs are cryo-stored in liquid nitrogen for several years. Your provider may use IVF (in Vitro Fertilization) to fertilize the eggs and implant the embryo into the uterus.
However, you will undergo health assessments and blood tests before cryopreservation. The health evaluation will check for hepatitis or syphilis. An infection can affect your ability to get pregnant or increase the risk of miscarriages and stillbirth.
Your reproductive specialist may prescribe medication to boost your fertility. The drugs ensure eggs are mature for the cryopreservation process. The eggs may be re-implanted whenever you are ready to get pregnant.
How important is egg quality for reproduction?
The egg quality is the most critical factor in determining your fertility. The uterus and other organs can affect your ability to get pregnant. But they don’t impact the cryopreservation and IVF process.
The quality of your eggs is tested through a process known as Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD). PGD screens the embryos for potential diseases before implantation into the uterus.
PGD can determine your reproductive potential by testing the quality of the embryos. The process can assess cell division and size to detect unhealthy tissues and chromosomal abnormalities. Research shows PGD reduces the live-birth rate, typically higher in older women.
How does age affect your reproductive potential?
Your ability to conceive typically reduces with age. The quantity and quality of eggs also decline, making it challenging to obtain healthy embryos for conception.
Your body produces eggs and disposes of them during your natural cycle. Unfortunately, it means your eggs will not be as healthy as they are today.
While cryopreservation is possible at any age, the prospects of obtaining a healthy embryo decline dramatically after age 40. That is why it is advisable to preserve your eggs when younger than 40.
While nutrition can increase the chances of obtaining healthy embryos, there is no guarantee that it works. Nonetheless, your provider can evaluate the eggs’ quantity and viability through advanced techniques like ultrasound. The test results will help you manage expectations and decide if using donor eggs is ideal for you.
Why freeze eggs for future use?
People choose to freeze eggs for many other reasons other than infertility. Cancer therapy can impact the viability of your eggs. You could opt for cryopreservation to avoid damaging tissue during the procedure. Your provider can fertilize the eggs through IVF. Eggs are then re-implanted for a successful pregnancy.
You may also choose cryopreservation if you are not yet ready to conceive. Freezing eggs at a younger age ensures they are viable when you want to get pregnant later in life. You can focus on your career or education without worrying about infertility in the future.
Call YourEggs or schedule an online consultation to learn more about the frozen egg cycle today.
