EGG FREEZING
Comprehensive Guide to Egg Freezing
Egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, is a revolutionary fertility preservation technique that allows women to secure their chances of having biological children in the future. This process involves extracting and freezing matured unfertilized eggs at their peak quality, ensuring that life’s timing or medical circumstances don’t limit family-building aspirations. At Nicosia Fertility, we specialize in guiding women through this empowering journey with expertise and compassion.
What is Egg Freezing?
Egg freezing is a highly advanced fertility preservation method where a woman’s eggs are harvested, rapidly frozen through a process called vitrification, and stored for future use. This process bypasses the natural aging of eggs, allowing women to retain their reproductive potential regardless of age or health changes. When ready to pursue pregnancy, the eggs are thawed, fertilized, and transferred into the uterus to achieve conception.
Egg freezing is no longer considered experimental, and its safety and efficacy have made it a popular choice among women looking to take control of their reproductive futures.
The Egg Freezing Process
The egg freezing process at Nicosia Fertility is meticulously designed to ensure comfort, safety, and optimal outcomes:
Every journey begins with a personalized consultation where our fertility specialists review medical history, assess ovarian reserve, and create a tailored plan. The egg retrieval process follows the same protocol as in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Typically, a woman's ovaries develop a single egg each month. However, to prepare for egg retrieval, the woman undergoes hormone injections over the course of several weeks. These medications stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs simultaneously, increasing the chances of successful collection. During this phase:
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Medications like follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) are administered.
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Monitoring involves blood tests and ultrasounds to track egg development and ensure safety.
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Once the eggs have reached maturity, they are retrieved in a minimally invasive and carefully monitored procedure. This involves using an ultrasound-guided needle, which is gently inserted through the vaginal wall to reach the ovarian follicles. Under sedation, the patient experiences no discomfort during the retrieval process. The procedure is quick, typically lasting between 15 to 30 minutes, and requires minimal recovery time. Each egg, roughly the size of a pencil point, is delicately extracted and immediately prepared for the freezing process to preserve its quality and viability for future use. This precise technique ensures that the eggs are safely and efficiently collected while prioritizing the patient’s comfort and safety.
The retrieved eggs are flash-frozen using vitrification, a method that prevents ice crystals from forming and damaging the eggs. Eggs are then stored securely in tubes in a liquid nitrogen tank at ultra-low temperatures, maintaining their quality indefinitely.
When the time is right, the eggs are thawed, fertilized via in vitro fertilization (IVF), and transferred to the uterus. This seamless integration of modern technology ensures a high likelihood of successful implantation and pregnancy.
Who Should Consider Egg Freezing?
Egg freezing is a powerful fertility preservation option that empowers women to safeguard their reproductive potential in a variety of circumstances. It is a proactive choice for those facing medical challenges, life planning decisions, or future family considerations.
Medical Reasons
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Cancer Treatments: Women diagnosed with cancer who have not yet begun chemotherapy or radiotherapy can benefit greatly from egg freezing. Cancer treatments are often toxic to oocytes, potentially leaving few or no viable eggs. By freezing eggs beforehand, women preserve their ability to conceive in the future.
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Chronic Health Conditions: Conditions such as autoimmune disorders, endometriosis, or the need for ovarian surgery may compromise ovarian function over time. Egg freezing provides a safety net for future family planning.
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Genetic Risks: Women with a family history of premature menopause or genetic mutations affecting fertility can freeze their eggs as a preventive measure to preserve their reproductive options.
Personal or Social Reasons
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Career and Education Goals: Many women choose to focus on personal and professional growth before starting a family. Egg freezing offers the flexibility to delay motherhood while maintaining the quality of younger eggs.
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Finding the Right Partner: For those who have not yet found the right partner or wish to delay family planning, egg freezing provides peace of mind and the ability to conceive when the time is right.
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Religious or Ethical Concerns: Women undergoing fertility treatments who prefer not to freeze embryos for religious or personal reasons can opt for egg freezing as an alternative.
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LGBTQ+ Individuals: Transgender men or nonbinary individuals planning gender-affirming treatments can freeze their eggs before starting medical interventions, preserving their ability to have biological children in the future.
Future Family Planning
Elective Fertility Preservation: Women who want to proactively protect their ability to conceive later in life can benefit from egg freezing. This option ensures greater flexibility in future family planning.
Prevention of Maternal Age Decline: Younger eggs have a higher likelihood of leading to successful pregnancies. By freezing eggs at a younger age, women can mitigate the risks associated with age-related fertility decline, even if they use the eggs years later.
Healthier Pregnancy Outcomes: Research suggests cryopreservation in general may reduce risks such as premature birth, low birth weight, and ante-partum hemorrhage. A meta-review of 11 studies, involving approximately 37,000 pregnancies, highlighted these potential benefits for pregnancies achieved through IVF.
Egg freezing empowers women to take control of their reproductive health, offering flexibility and peace of mind regardless of their personal, medical, or social circumstances. At Nicosia Fertility, we are committed to providing compassionate guidance and cutting-edge technology to help each woman achieve her unique family-building goals.
Risks and Considerations
While egg freezing is safe, it’s important to understand potential risks, which include:
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Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS)
A rare condition caused by hormonal stimulation, resulting in temporary ovarian swelling. Ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval carry similar risks to those associated with IVF treatment, including a slight chance of allergic reactions to the medications used for stimulating egg production. Additionally, some individuals may experience mild, temporary discomfort or bloating after the procedure.
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Surgical Risks
Minor risks associated with the retrieval procedure, such as bleeding or infection.
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No Guarantees
Although egg freezing improves future pregnancy chances, success depends on factors like age, egg quality, and health.
Who Should Consider Egg Freezing?
Egg freezing is a versatile solution for individuals and couples in a variety of situations.
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Medical Reasons
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Patients undergoing cancer treatments like chemotherapy or radiation, which can compromise fertility.
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Individuals with chronic health conditions (e.g., endometriosis) or genetic disorders affecting fertility.
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Women facing surgeries that may impact ovarian function.
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Elective Fertility Preservation
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Women and couples wishing to delay parenthood for personal or professional reasons.
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Patients opting for preimplantation genetic testing of embryos to ensure healthy pregnancies in the future.
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LGBTQ+ Family Building
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Provides an essential pathway for same-sex couples and transgender individuals to preserve fertility and plan for parenthood.
Is Egg Freezing Right for You?
Age is a significant factor in a woman’s decision to freeze her eggs. Female fertility naturally declines over time, with the prime reproductive years being in the 20s and early 30s, when both egg quality and quantity are at their highest. For women planning to preserve their fertility for the future, fertility specialists often recommend considering egg freezing during this optimal window.
For women beyond their early 30s, egg freezing may still be an option. However, specialists typically advise undergoing ovarian reserve testing to assess the number of eggs remaining in the ovaries. While ovarian reserve testing provides valuable insights into egg quantity, it’s important to note that no current test can determine egg quality, which declines with age.
Additionally, ovarian reserve testing can help both the patient and her physician understand how her body might respond to the ovarian stimulation medications used during the egg freezing process. This information is crucial for creating a personalized and effective approach to fertility preservation.
Take the First Step with Nicosia Fertility
At Nicosia Fertility, we believe in empowering women to take charge of their reproductive health. Whether preserving fertility for medical, personal, or social reasons, we are here to guide and support you every step of the way. With cutting-edge technology, personalized care, and a commitment to excellence, we help make your dream of motherhood a reality—whenever the time is right.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and explore how egg freezing can open new possibilities for your future.
FAQs About Egg Freezing at Nicosia Fertility
Can't find the answer to your question? Contact us here.
Freezing your eggs now means preserving them at their current age and quality, giving you the gift of time to focus on your career, travel, or finding the right partner without worrying about your biological clock ticking.
Almost! We use advanced vitrification technology to safely freeze your eggs at ultra-low temperatures, halting their biological clock. When you're ready, they’re thawed and used just as they were when frozen.
Yes! Your eggs remain as young as the day they were frozen. With a healthy uterus and medical approval, you can use your frozen eggs to achieve pregnancy, even in your late 40s.
You have full control. You can choose to donate your unused eggs to other couples in need, contribute to medical research, or simply discontinue storage.
The procedure is quick and relatively painless. It involves about 10-12 days of hormone injections, a 15-minute egg retrieval under sedation, and you’re back to your normal routine within a day!
The process, including retrieval and freezing, costs €3,500. After the first year, storage is €250 annually. It’s a priceless investment in your future family.
No partner? No problem! Egg freezing is a fantastic option for women planning for the future but not ready to start a family just yet.
It’s best to freeze around 15-20 eggs to ensure higher chances of future success. This number may require one or more cycles, depending on your ovarian reserve.
Technically, no! With proper cryopreservation, your eggs can remain viable indefinitely, ready whenever you are.
At Nicosia Fertility, we combine cutting-edge technology with compassionate care. Our expert team tailors the process to your needs, ensuring comfort and success at every step.
How Fertility Treatment Works
Every journey to parenthood is unique — here’s how we support you at every step with care, expertise, and compassion.
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Initial Consultation
Your fertility journey begins with a personalized consultation. Our specialists take the time to understand your medical history, concerns, and goals, and explain the treatment options available.
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Diagnostic Testing
We perform a series of tests to identify any underlying causes of infertility. This includes hormone analysis, ultrasound scans, semen analysis, and other relevant assessments to guide the most effective treatment plan.
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Fertility Treatment
Based on your results, we offer tailored fertility treatments such as IVF, ICSI, egg donation, or other assisted reproductive techniques. Our team supports you closely at every step of the process.
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Pregnancy & Birth
If successful, the embryo implants and pregnancy begins. We follow up with you through early pregnancy and work with your chosen obstetric care provider to support you all the way to childbirth.
