Egg Freezing: Your Comprehensive Guide
Preserving your Fertility
Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, offers a unique opportunity for individuals to take control of their reproductive futures. Whether you're focused on your career, education, or simply not ready for parenthood yet, egg freezing allows you to store your eggs for later use. In this guide, we will walk you through the entire process, from the initial consultation with a fertility specialist to the recovery period after egg retrieval.
Step 1: Initial Consultation & Testing
Begin the egg freezing process by consulting a fertility specialist and undergoing essential tests. The fertility assessment includes:
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Blood tests: These tests measure hormone levels like Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) and screen for infections and relevant factors.
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Ovarian Ultrasound: This evaluation assesses the ovaries, Antral-Follicle Count (AFC), and identifies abnormalities affecting fertility.
Your doctor will use these tests to determine a rough range of how many eggs you might retrieve in one cycle, guiding the regimen to maximize egg retrieval.
Step 2: Prepping before Stimulation
In some cases, your doctor may ask you to go on birth control before the stimulation process to ensure synchronized follicular growth. However, if you're already on birth control, some doctors may ask you to discontinue it – it all depends on your body.
This strategy aims to collect more eggs of similar size during the egg-freezing cycle. If one egg becomes dominant and hinders other follicles' development, adjustments to the cycle might be necessary.
Step 3: Ovarian Stimulation
Begin your journey with daily self-injections of two hormones, FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone). These hormones trigger the ovaries to generate multiple eggs. The medication protocol mirrors the natural menstrual cycle but with elevated amounts. Unlike a usual cycle where only one egg matures from a follicle and others are lost, successful stimulation yields a higher number of eggs for retrieval.
The duration of these injections ranges from 10 to 14 days. During this period, anticipate daily or every-other-day visits to the clinic for monitoring. This includes transvaginal ultrasounds to track follicle development and gauge the optimal timing for egg retrieval.
Step 4: Trigger Shot & Retrieval Procedure
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Your doctor estimates the egg retrieval procedure date based on your ultrasounds, confirming the exact time two days prior to retrieval. After your eggs attain the desired size, the "trigger shot" is administered, and the procedure is scheduled 24-48 hours later. To prepare for the egg retrieval, avoid consuming food or drinks after midnight before the procedure date.
This quick outpatient surgical procedure takes place at a fertility clinic, where your eggs are extracted using an ultrasound-guided vaginal needle. You will be put under light anesthesia to ensure comfort. The procedure takes 10-15 minutes, and after a brief observation period, you will be discharged.
Step 5: Storage
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Your clinic will inform you of the number of eggs collected and the quantity that is viable for freezing and fertilization (usually by the next day). These eggs can be cryopreserved immediately as unfertilized eggs or fertilized through IVF and stored as frozen embryos.
The eggs are stored at certified facilities and can be preserved indefinitely until retrieval for use at your preferred time, with an annual storage fee required.
How Much Does Egg Freezing Cost?
When considering egg freezing as an option for family planning or fertility preservation, it's important to understand the factors that contribute to the overall cost. While there are several components that influence the price of egg freezing, one stands out as the primary cost driver: the number of cycles needed to complete the process.
What Drives the Number of Cycles?
The number of cycles you'll need for egg freezing is influenced
by several key factors:
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Age: Age plays a significant role in the number of cycles required. Younger individuals typically produce more and higher-quality eggs, making it possible to retrieve an adequate number in a single cycle. As you age, the ovarian reserve naturally declines, which can necessitate multiple cycles to obtain the desired number of eggs.
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Ovarian Reserve: Ovarian reserve is a measure of a person's remaining egg quantity and quality. Those with low ovarian reserve may require multiple cycles to accumulate a sufficient number of viable eggs.
3. Fertility Goals: The number of cycles also depends on your fertility preservation objectives. The quantity of eggs you wish to freeze will directly impact the number of cycles needed. Some may aim to preserve a smaller number of eggs, while others desire a larger quantity for future family planning.
Chances of Success: The Relationship Between Eggs and Age
The quantity of eggs frozen can significantly affect the chances of a successful live birth in the future. If you manage to freeze a substantial number of eggs and you are under 35, your odds of success can skyrocket to an impressive 90%. Conversely, if you freeze fewer than 10 eggs, your chances of success are much lower. Therefore, the quantity of eggs retrieved and stored is closely tied to your potential success.
Using an Online Calculator for Planning
As you consider egg freezing, an online calculator can be an invaluable tool. Researchers have developed an online calculator that helps predict the chances of a live birth by plugging in the number of eggs retrieved and age at egg freezing. This tool empowers you to make informed decisions regarding the number of cycles needed, based on your individual circumstances and goals.
Can You Breakdown the Cost Per Cycle?
The cost of egg freezing can vary depending on various factors, including your location and the specific clinic or fertility center you choose. In the Bay area, costs can range between $12,000-21,000. Here we breakdown how each stage impacts your egg freezing expenses from initial consultations to medications and retrieval.
1. Initial Consultation
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Typically, patients invest between $100 and $300 for their initial consultation with a doctor. During this session, you'll receive guidance on the steps required for egg freezing and become familiar with your reproductive endocrinologist.
2. Egg Count Testing: Blood Work & Ultrasound
These diagnostic procedures, often performed together, provide crucial information about ovarian health, egg count, and underlying conditions. Lab-administered blood tests are required since at-home fertility test results aren't accepted.
3. Ovarian Stimulation Visits
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These visits monitor your egg development during the ovarian stimulation phase. They include blood tests and ultrasounds to guide medication adjustments, ensuring optimal egg growth. Costs depend on appointment frequency and clinic pricing.
4. Medication
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Medication expenses are a significant part of the egg freezing process. Costs can vary widely due to individual dosages and the need for daily injections, which can change during treatment to optimize egg maturation. This adaptability can lead to unexpected increases in medication expenses.
5. Egg Retreival & Freezing
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This encompasses the expenses associated with the egg freezing procedure itself. It includes the costs for the professional services of the reproductive endocrinologist performing the operation, and the general operating costs of the clinic.
6. Anesthesia
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You will be sedated during the egg retrieval procedure. These costs encompass the administration of sedatives or anesthesia, the services of the anesthesiologist, and any associated clinic expenses.
7. Storage
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These fees cover secure storage of cryopreserved eggs. They vary by clinic and storage duration, so prepare for this ongoing expense in your egg freezing plan.
How Do I Start Egg Freezing?
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Considering egg freezing? Starting the process is a breeze with Nuegg – we've got you covered. You'll work with a top-rated provider, save on costs, and leave all the administrative tasks to us.