- Feel Good
- 25th Sep 2024
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Egg freezing explained: Is it the right move for you?
By Dr. Matthew Prior, Consultant Gynaecologist specialising in Reproductive Medicine at Newcastle Fertility Centre.
Increasingly, more women come and see me asking whether to freeze their eggs. It’s not surprising why.
Since Apple and Google introduced egg freezing as an employee benefit, the trend has increased. Most people will have seen adverts for egg freezing, but women in their 30s will likely have been targeted by adverts on social media promoting tests to assess their fertility, which often lead to conversations about egg freezing.
Since the pandemic, rates of egg preservation enquiries have risen as much as 50%. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), which regulates UK fertility clinics, found egg retrieval cycles for fertility preservation rose by 39% in some clinics.
Biological clock and fertility decline
As women age, their fertility naturally declines, largely due to the decreasing number of viable eggs in their ovaries. Peak fertility occurs in the early 30s, when women have about a 61% chance of conceiving within six months of trying. By ages 34 to 36, this chance drops slightly to 56%, and between 37 to 39, it further reduces to 46%. Once a woman reaches her 40s, fertility drops significantly, with only a 28% chance of becoming pregnant.
More importantly, fertility treatments like IVF (in vitro fertilisation) become less effective with age. For women under 35, the success rate of a single IVF cycle is approximately a 1 in 4 chance of having a baby. However, for those aged 40 to 42, this success rate decreases to around 1 in 10. Women over 42 face even steeper odds, with less than a 5% chance of success when using their own eggs.
This decline in fertility and IVF success is closely tied to both the quantity and quality of eggs. As women age, their egg reserve diminishes, and the remaining eggs tend to be of lower quality. IVF outcomes are dependent on the age of the egg rather than the age of the woman carrying the pregnancy. Egg freezing is a popular option that allows women to preserve their younger, healthier eggs, improving the chances of successful IVF later in life.
How are eggs frozen?
Women are born with all of their eggs for life – about 2 million. Over time, eggs disappear unless they develop and mature, before being ovulated as part of a natural cycle.
For eggs to be frozen, they need to be mature. Therefore, ovaries need to be stimulated so that more mature eggs can be collected.
The process involves taking hormone injections and monitoring with ultrasound scans before having a procedure to collect the eggs. This is done using a needle to collect the fluid from the ovaries containing the eggs under mild sedation.
The eggs are then prepared and quickly frozen using a technique called vitrification. Eggs can then be stored indefinitely. In the UK you can legally store for up to 55 years.
Why do people freeze their eggs?
Some people freeze their eggs for medical reasons, such as before starting chemotherapy. Increasingly, people store for social reasons and tend to fall into one of two groups.
The first group is made up of women in their 20s or early 30s. These women know they want to have children in the future but are not ready yet. They might be studying, developing their career, or traveling.
The second group includes women in their late 30s or 40s, who want to have children but aren’t in a position to do so, usually because they aren’t in a relationship with someone who feels ready. They know their fertility window is closing and perhaps had already hoped to have had a baby by now. They want to give themselves the best chance of pregnancy in the near future.
The success rate
We’re still not sure how successful egg freezing is likely to be for any individual person. Egg freezing only became mainstream about five to 10 years ago and so only a few women who froze their eggs have returned to use them. Some are still not ready for pregnancy and others will have conceived without them.
Therefore, many clinics derive from the chance of having a baby from women who have used frozen eggs from donor egg banks. Research has shown that these figures may not completely apply to women who have used their own frozen eggs.
The average egg has a 5.9% chance of becoming a baby, so this means you need about 20 to give yourself a good chance. Nevertheless, this is a ballpark figure and no matter how many eggs you have frozen, it doesn’t guarantee a baby in the future. Based on age-related IVF success rates, most women will require several cycles of egg freezing to give themselves adequate provision.
Age is the most important factor for fertility preservation. As women age, they have fewer eggs, which are not as good quality. Therefore, older women will require more cycles to get sufficient eggs. So, it’s much better to freeze eggs when you’re younger.
The risks
The main risk is that the treatment may not be successful. Egg freezing is generally safe, but some women may experience side effects from fertility medications. In rare cases, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) can occur, which is serious and potentially life-threatening.
The side effects
The side effects of egg freezing typically stem from the fertility medications used to stimulate the ovaries. These side effects can include:
- Bloating: Swelling and discomfort in the abdominal area.
- Abdominal Pain: Discomfort or cramping in the lower abdomen.
- Mood Swings: Emotional changes due to hormonal fluctuations.
- Fatigue: Feeling unusually tired or exhausted.
- Headaches: Frequent or severe headaches.
- Nausea: Feeling sick to your stomach.
- Breast Tenderness: Soreness or sensitivity in the breasts.
- Injection Site Reactions: Redness, swelling, or pain at the site where injections are administered.
How much does egg freezing cost?
The typical cost for egg collection and freezing is £3,350, with additional medication expenses ranging from £500 to £1,500. Storage fees, which are separate, generally range from £125 to £350 per year. To avoid unexpected costs, ensure you obtain a comprehensive treatment plan from your clinic.
Thawing the eggs and transferring them to the womb averages £2,500. Overall, the complete process of egg freezing and thawing usually costs between £7,000 and £8,000.
So, should I freeze my eggs?
This is an incredibly personal decision and not always an easy one. I recommend getting informed. Find out more about how egg freezing may benefit you. Look for impartial information from places like the HFEA. Speak to your friends and family, or book a consultation with a fertility specialist.
About the author:
Dr. Matthew Prior is a highly experienced NHS consultant based in Newcastle, with 17 years of dedicated service within the NHS. Since 2022, Dr. Prior has led the Newcastle Fertility Centre at the International Centre for Life as the Head of Department, applying a holistic and individualised approach to fertility treatments.
As a member of both the British Fertility Society and The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Dr. Prior is committed to excellence in patient care, crafting evidence-based treatment plans that address a wide range of fertility issues. His specialist interests include general infertility, reproductive endocrinology, and IVF.
Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Prior is a leader in fertility education, spearheading initiatives such as The Big Fertility Project and participating in STEM events to raise awareness and share knowledge within the field.
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