Egg Freezing Process

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is a group of medical treatments that aid in the achievement of pregnancy when you face problems conceiving. Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, plays an integral role in ART in allowing you to preserve your eggs for later use. The egg freezing process is comprised of three basic stages:

Consultation

At your first consultation, your doctor will review your medical history and discuss the reason for opting for egg freezing. You will be briefed in detail about what you can expect during the procedure, the pros and cons, if egg freezing is a good option for you and the costs involved.

Medication

Once you and your doctor decide that egg freezing will be helpful for you to preserve your fertility, you will be introduced to the first stage of egg freezing – ovulation induction. Ovulation induction involves the injection of medication such as follicle stimulating hormone to stimulate the ovaries to release eggs. You will be followed-up with vaginal ultrasounds to monitor egg release.

Preservation

Once the eggs are released, they are removed by an egg retrieval procedure. These are then frozen under subzero temperatures until you are ready to use them for conception. Freezing ceases all biological activities and helps preserve the eggs for years. A substance called cryoprotectant is usually added to prevent the formation of crystals.