Egg Freezing 101
Everything you need to know about preserving your fertility through egg freezing.
The Egg Freezing Process
Egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, is a process that preserves a woman's eggs to allow her to have children later in life. Here's what to expect:
1. Initial Consultation
Meet with a fertility specialist to discuss your medical history, undergo fertility testing, and create a personalized treatment plan.
2. Ovarian Stimulation
Take hormone medications for 8-12 days to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Regular monitoring via ultrasound and blood tests will track your progress.
3. Egg Retrieval
A minor surgical procedure performed under sedation. Using ultrasound guidance, a doctor retrieves eggs from your ovaries with a thin needle. The procedure takes about 15-20 minutes.
4. Freezing and Storage
Retrieved eggs are immediately frozen using vitrification (flash-freezing) and stored in liquid nitrogen tanks until you're ready to use them.