Whether you are seriously considering freezing your eggs or want to explore the option and see if it works for you, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve gotten two experts—Dr. Sneha Sathe, Fertility Consultant, Nova IVF Fertility, Mumbai and Dr Shalini Vijay, Senior Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Pune—to answer all your questions. From the ideal age to freeze your eggs to the actual process, and the cost, here is everything you need to know about freezing your eggs in India.
At What Age Should You Freeze Your Eggs?
“The most ideal age for egg freezing would be 27 to 34 years. However, in some situations, women younger than 27 may need to freeze their eggs (e.g. poor egg reserve, endometriosis, cancer). Similarly, older women in their late ‘30s or early ‘40s can also freeze their eggs and should certainly discuss with the fertility physician to understand the process. Women are born with all the eggs they’ll ever have, and as they get older, their egg count diminishes. At the same time, the risk of having genetically abnormal eggs increases. Pregnancy rates are lower from eggs frozen after the age of 35, so it is recommended to freeze eggs much earlier,” explains Dr Sathe.
How Is Egg Freezing Done?
Dr Sathe explains, “In order to retrieve eggs for freezing, the initial process is the same as that for an IVF/ICSI cycle. The only difference is that following egg retrieval, the mature eggs are identified and frozen. It takes approximately 11-13 days from the second day of the period to complete the egg freezing cycle.
“When the woman is ready to attempt pregnancy (which can be several years later), the eggs are thawed, fertilised in the laboratory by ICSI using her husband’s sperm and then the embryo/s are transferred to the uterus on day three or day five.”
Are There Any Tests To Be Done Before The Process?
Dr Vijay breaks down the process. “Before opting for egg freezing, a woman will have to get blood tests done to check for any conditions such as hepatitis, syphilis, and other serious conditions. Then, one will have to be injected by an expert in order to stimulate the growth of a large number of eggs in the ovaries. Eggs are then frozen, and when a woman wants to conceive, the eggs are thawed and fertilized by injecting sperm into the egg (ICSI).”
How Much Time Does It Take?
“One cycle of egg freezing takes 11-13 days. Depending on the woman’s age, egg reserve and family-building plans, more than one cycle of freezing may be recommended,” says Dr Sathe.
Are There Any Side Effects That Come With Freezing Your Eggs?
“Generally, side effects are uncommon, and those that are experienced are usually minor. The medication used for ovarian stimulation may, on occasion, lead to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). The risk of OHSS can be brought down significantly depending on the protocol used for ovarian stimulation.
“Rarely the needle used to retrieve eggs cause bleeding, infection or damage to the bowel, bladder or blood vessel. The risk of miscarriage (when the frozen eggs are used in the future) primarily depends on the age at which the eggs were frozen. Older women have higher miscarriage rates. Research to date hasn’t shown an increase in the risk of birth defects for babies born as a result of egg freezing,” explains Dr Sathe.
Is Pregnancy Guaranteed With Egg Freezing?
Dr Sathe explains, “Many women who freeze their eggs think that procedure guarantees the ability to get pregnant when older. The chances of pregnancy depend, in part, on the woman’s age at the time of freezing, the number of eggs frozen and also on the presence or absence of other infertility factors when planning pregnancy.”
Some Common Misconceptions About Freezing Your Eggs
Dr Vijay breaks down two of the most common myths about freezing your eggs.
Myth: Freezing eggs can make you infertile in the future.
“This statement is completely false. Egg freezing is removing eggs from the body, and the process decreases the number of eggs during a future pregnancy. But, during the egg-freezing process, medication is to ensure that multiple eggs develop and mature, preserving some of those otherwise “lost” eggs for later use.”
Myth: Fresh eggs are better compared to a frozen one
“According to studies, healthy pregnancies occur from frozen egg cycles rather than fresh egg cycles. Reportedly, there are no birth defects, chromosomal anomalies, or pregnancy complications when comparing pregnancies that result from frozen eggs versus fresh eggs. So, go for egg freezing without any hesitation or doubt.”
How Much Does Egg Freezing Cost In India?
In India, the procedure can cost approximately between Rs 1,50,000 to Rs 1,70,000. The cost is inclusive of all the medicines and injections for ovarian stimulation, along with the chargers for the process of egg retrieval and subsequent freezing.
Remember to connect with a fertility expert to get more clarity on the process before you make a decision.
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