Egg Freezing
Egg freezing or mature oocyte cryopreservation is a procedure to increase the chances of a woman getting pregnant in the future. The eggs are excavated from a woman’s ovaries and are frozen & stored in an unfertilised state for future use. A frozen egg can always be fertilised with sperm in the lab and implanted in the uterus. This process is called In-Vitro Fertilisation.
At Giggles, our doctors explain the egg freezing process, associated risks, the need for the process, etc.
Why is Egg Freezing done?
Egg freezing might be an option for ladies who want to become pregnant in the future. Unlike fertilised egg preservation, egg freezing doesn’t require sperm, as the eggs are not fertilised when preserved. However, the woman has to take drugs so she can ovulate and produce multiple eggs for retrieval.
Egg freezing might be considered in the case of:
- Conditions Affecting Fertility – These include autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, sickle cell anaemia, and gender diversity.
- Treatments Affecting Pregnancy – Medical treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy can affect fertility. Egg freezing before treatment can restore pregnancy.
- Going for In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) – While going for IVF, some people prefer egg freezing for ethical and religious reasons.
- Preserving Younger Eggs for the Future – Egg freezing at a younger age can help increase the chances of pregnancy when the woman is ready to conceive.
Risks
Egg freezing includes the following risks:
- Medical complications associated with fertility drugs – The use of fertility drugs such as Luteinising Hormone (LH) and Follicular Stimulating Hormone (FSH) can cause ovaries to get swollen and painful after ovulation. It can cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, and symptoms include bloating, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and nausea.
- Complications associated with the egg retrieval process – A needle is used during the process. It can cause bleeding, damage to blood vessels, bladder, etc.
Egg Freezing Procedure
If women are looking to freeze their eggs, they should look for the best fertility healthcare facility having years of expertise. At Giggles, we have a highly experienced team of reproductive endocrinologists who use minimally invasive techniques to carry out the process.
Here are the steps of the egg freezing procedure:
- Some screening blood tests take place before the actual process begins. These include:
- Ovarian Reserve Testing – This is done to determine the quality and quantity of eggs and the response of ovaries against fertility medications.
- Infectious Disease Screening – This is done to determine certain infections such as HIV-AIDS or Hepatitis B & C.
- The process begins with ovarian stimulation. This step involves the use of medications that stimulate ovaries to produce multiple eggs instead of a single egg produced monthly. During the process, the doctor monitors the development of eggs. An injection of human chorionic gonadotropin is given when the eggs are ready for retrieval, generally after 10-14 days.
- The next step is egg retrieval which takes place under sedation in a fertility clinic. In this step, an ultrasound probe is inserted into the vagina to monitor follicles. Then, a needle is headed towards the follicles, which removes the egg from the follicle. After egg retrieval, a woman might suffer from cramps or a feeling of fullness due to ovary enlargement.
- The last step is freezing. The unfertilised eggs are harvested and cooled to less than 0 degrees Celcius temperature. This way, eggs are preserved for future use.
Why Choose Giggles Hospitals?
At Giggles, we make every attempt to do our best to support your efforts to conceive. In order to increase your chances of a successful pregnancy, we make sure to give you access to cutting-edge facilities and modern equipment while also taking into account your mental and emotional health. Our medical team has vast experience & required expertise in treating various infertility issues, and we always strive to improve our services and technologies.
