What is Egg Freezing?
Egg freezing is a form of fertility preservation that allows you to store your unfertilised eggs for future use. Whether you’re not ready to start a family yet or need to protect your fertility before medical treatment, egg freezing can help preserve your future options.
When you’re ready, your frozen eggs can be thawed and used as part of fertility treatment.
There are two main treatment pathways for egg freezing:
Elective egg freezing is a proactive option for people who want to preserve their fertility before the natural age-related decline in egg quality and quantity.
Whether you’re focusing on your career, waiting to find the right partner, or simply not ready to start a family yet, egg freezing can provide greater flexibility and peace of mind for the future.
Medical egg freezing may be recommended if your fertility could be affected by a medical condition or treatment, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery.
Freezing your eggs before treatment begins may help preserve the opportunity to use your own eggs in the future, when the time is right to start or grow your family.
If you’re unsure which option is right for you, one of our fertility specialists will take the time to understand your circumstances and recommend the most appropriate approach.
Whatever your reason for considering egg freezing, we’re here to support you with expert advice and care, so you can make an informed decision about your future fertility.
Want to learn more? Download our Your Guide to Egg Freezing.
Who Should Consider Egg Freezing?
People choose to freeze their eggs for many different reasons. Whether you’re planning ahead or facing medical treatment that may affect your fertility, egg freezing may help preserve your future fertility options.
You may consider elective egg freezing if you:
- Aren’t ready to have children but want to keep your future options open.
- Are focused on your career, study or personal goals.
- Haven’t found the right partner.
- Simply want more flexibility around when you start a family.
Alternatively, you may consider medical egg freezing if you:
- Have been diagnosed with cancer and need chemotherapy or radiation.
- Have a condition such as endometriosis that may affect your fertility.
- Require surgery or treatment that could impact your ovaries or reproductive health.
- Are undergoing gender-affirming care or another treatment where fertility preservation has been recommended.
- Have been advised by a fertility specialist to consider fertility preservation for medical reasons.
Every person’s fertility journey is unique. If you’re considering egg freezing, our fertility specialists will take the time to understand your goals, answer your questions, and help you decide whether it’s the right option for you.
What is the Egg Freezing Process?
Egg freezing is a fertility preservation option that allows you to store your unfertilised eggs for future use. It involves a few key steps that use standard IVF techniques to safely collect and freeze your eggs.
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Ovarian stimulation
Hormone medications are used to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs in one cycle.
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Egg retrieval
Once your eggs are ready, they are collected through a minor procedure performed under light sedation.
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Egg cryopreservation
The eggs are then frozen using a rapid-freezing method called vitrification, a trusted cryopreservation process used around the world.
The number of eggs retrieved during a single egg freezing cycle varies depending on your age, health, and how your body responds to the medication. Your fertility specialist will create a personalised plan based on your individual needs.
In some cases, patients may also wish to consider alternatives such as embryo freezing (fertilised eggs) if more appropriate. Embryo freezing involves fertilising eggs with sperm before freezing. This is a good option if you’re undergoing IVF with a partner or donor and wish to preserve embryos instead of eggs.
Whether you’re planning for an egg freezing cycle now or simply exploring future fertility preservation, our caring specialists are here to support you every step of the way.
Success Rates and Storage Guidelines for Egg Freezing
Success Rates of Egg Freezing
Frozen eggs can be stored for many years prior to being thawed and fertilised, with similar success as eggs that are fresh*.
With our team of specialists determining your current fertility health and creating a personalised treatment plan to suit your individual requirements, we will be able to provide you with the best possible outcome.
Our highly experienced specialists will discuss with you your chances of achieving a pregnancy, using frozen eggs, based on your personal circumstances.
*Success rates are dependent on the age of the female at the time of freezing and the number of eggs retrieved.
What are the storage guidelines for egg freezing?
Your frozen eggs will be stored in highly secured cryotanks at City Fertility. City Fertility has a 10-year storage limit. You can apply for an extension by contacting us as you reach the 10-year mark. Our team will be happy to guide you through the process.
City Fertility follows egg storage guidelines recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC Ethical Guidelines 2017).
How does cryopreservation work?
Cryopreservation uses a rapid freezing technique called vitrification. This process prevents the formation of damaging ice crystals, preserving egg cell structure and function.
Are There Any Limitations for Egg Freezing?
While the egg freezing process is a valuable tool for preserving your fertility, it’s important to understand its limitations. Egg freezing is not a guarantee of future pregnancy, and success rates can vary depending on your age and the quality of your eggs at the time of freezing. Timing is important as egg quality naturally declines as we age. In some medical situations, egg freezing or egg cryopreservation may not be recommended.
Our specialists will help you decide whether egg freezing or IVF is the right step for your personal circumstances.
What is the Cost of Freezing Eggs?
At City Fertility, we provide transparent pricing to help you plan ahead. To learn more about pricing, visit our Treatment Costs page.
It’s important to note that there is no Medicare rebate available for elective egg freezing.