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Egg Freezing for Fertility Preservation

Keep your options open. When you prolong your fertility by freezing your eggs, you can build your family on your own timeline.

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What is egg freezing?

Egg freezing is a process in which eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and preserved for future use. You may choose to delay parenthood for any number of reasons, whether it’s a medical diagnosis, professional goals, family medical history, or simply a desire to have a child later in life. Some people need to do this urgently because of a medical diagnosis such as cancer where the treatment may be harmful to eggs.


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How egg freezing works

The egg freezing process always begins with an initial consultation, ultrasound, and blood work so your doctor can assess the best steps forward. You will be given injectable hormonal medications for 10 to 14 days to stimulate ovaries to produce multiple eggs before eggs are retrieved. During this time you’ll be monitored closely with ultrasounds and blood tests to make sure your hormones are at an appropriate level for your procedure. Procedures are usually scheduled 12-16 days after medications start and are done while you are asleep.

This is a simple procedure performed by our expert doctors that involves inserting a thin ultrasound-guided needle into your ovaries to retrieve eggs. You will be asleep for the whole process which takes about 20-30 minutes. Afterwards you may feel cramping, bloating, abdominal distention and constipation. These side effects usually resolve 5-7 days after the procedure. Most women need 1-2 days to recover after the egg retrieval.

Once your eggs are in our lab our expert embryologists will select mature eggs to be frozen via vitrification, a method of rapid freezing. Access to your frozen egg data will always be available to you. Frozen eggs can be successfully stored for many years, until you are ready to use them.

When you are ready to try to conceive, your eggs will be thawed and fertilized in the lab using partner or donor sperm. The fertilized eggs will be grown in embryo culture for 5-7 days. The resulting embryos can be frozen, biopsied for genetic testing, and transferred when you are ready.

Egg freezing can give you autonomy over your own fertility timeline. We typically recommend freezing before the age of 40, with the late 20s to mid 30s being the best time to freeze. That being said, every patient is unique, and we are happy to meet to discuss your options.

Freezing your eggs before undergoing medical treatments or procedures that impact fertility can also be a valuable option for those who want to preserve their fertility while caring for their own health. If your doctor or oncologist has talked with you about preserving your fertility, please call us at (214) 225-2057 to begin discussing your unique needs.

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Egg freezing success with Dallas IVF

There are over 2,500 eggs currently frozen at Dallas IVF.

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Paying for egg freezing

The cost of fertility care varies based on the services that comprise your unique plan and your insurance coverage. Our team is here to help guide you through the financing process and make sure your coverage and options are as transparent as possible.

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You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

We do not have an age limit for egg freezing. Everyone is different and every circumstance is unique. However, our doctors will discuss success rates with each patient based on their age and egg supply and will help you make a decision that is right for you.

Once your egg quantity and quality is determined, your doctor will advise you on your egg freezing success based on a number of factors, including your age. Some patients may choose to go through multiple rounds to get enough eggs to reach their goals. We encourage every patient to do what is best for them, and we will be transparent throughout the entire process so you can move forward feeling the best you can about your future fertility.

There are no known long-term side effects, including no long term risk of invasive ovarian or breast cancer, infertility, or early menopause. Many patients experience some side effects from the hormones used in this process including headaches, fatigue, irritability, bloating, nausea and constipation. These side effects will cease after the process is completed.

Typically, you will be seen 4-5 times within a two-week period while you are on hormones.

We recommend avoiding alcohol, smoking, and drugs as you prepare for the cycle and complete the cycle. We also recommend avoiding NSAIDS, such as ibuprofen, during the cycle. Toward the end of the cycle, we will tell you to avoid strenuous exercise and intercourse for about a week until you are fully recovered after your procedure.

Please inform Dallas IVF if you decide not to use your eggs. You will be given a disposition form and you can choose to donate your eggs to the lab, another individual, or discard them. Your doctor is here to help guide your decision.