Understanding egg freezing and IVF

Today, many women opt to postpone their aspirations of motherhood. Whether driven by career pursuits or personal choices, they set aside thoughts of childbearing. However, as their biological clocks continue to tick, the certainty of their plans wanes. This is when egg freezing in conjunction with in vitro fertilisation serves as a viable option. The former is a procedure that uses vitrification to preserve the woman's eggs for later conception.

The latter, however, is an advanced fertility treatment where eggs and sperm are combined outside the body. This procedure is done in a laboratory dish to create embryos for later implantation into the uterus to achieve pregnancy. Here are other things worth knowing about egg freezing and IVF.

What is egg freezing?

Also known as ovarian cryopreservation, this technique requires the patience to take hormonal injections for around 14 days from the start of their menstrual cycle. A qualified fertility expert determines the dosage of the injection. For this, the patient must take specific blood tests and undergo ultrasounds to assess her egg reserve. The injections administered are synthetic hormones which stimulate the growth of eggs.

Once the eggs reach a sufficient amount, they are retrieved through an outpatient procedure (oocyte retrieval). It is typically conducted on the 14th day of the procedure. The retrieved eggs are then flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen. This way, they can be used later whenever the patient wishes to conceive.

What is IVF?

IVF is a widely practised assisted reproductive technology that involves combination of eggs and sperm outside the body to create embryos for implantation. Key aspects of IVF include:

Ovarian stimulation: Hormonal medications are administered to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple mature follicles containing eggs.

Egg retrieval: Mature eggs are retrieved through a minimally invasive procedure and are then fertilised with sperm to form embryos.

Embryo culture: Embryos are cultured and monitored in a laboratory for a few days to observe their development and select the best-quality embryos for transfer.

Embryo transfer: Selected embryos are then transferred into the uterus with the intent of successful implantation and a viable pregnancy.

Cryopreservation (optional): Extra embryos can be cryopreserved (frozen) for future use in subsequent IVF cycles, giving you the chance to build your family over time.

Fertility preservation considerations

Both egg freezing and IVF offer avenues for fertility preservation. When considering the most suitable approach, various factors play an important role, including age, reproductive health, and personal circumstances. Also, it is important to debunk STI myths to ensure proper information guides decision-making. Here’s a list of factors:

• Age

• Medical history

• Personal circumstances

Benefits and risks

Understanding the pros and cons associated with egg freezing and IVF can help you make informed decisions based on your unique situations and goals. For this, it is wise to consult your fertility specialist for further clarification.

Conclusion

Egg freezing and IVF offer great opportunities for fertility preservation. They let you take control of their reproductive futures. You can make empowered choices by understanding both techniques' processes, benefits, and considerations.