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Did you know the first babies born with frozen eggs were twins, born in 1986? Frozen egg transfers increased by 86% from 2014 to 2019 and are continuing to be something that is more commonly talked about, and done. So why has there been this rise over the years?
What is egg freezing?
Egg freezing is a medical procedure that involves retrieving a woman's eggs, freezing them, and storing them for potential future use.
The process typically begins with ovarian stimulation, where fertility medications (IVF drugs) are administered to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs. Once the eggs reach the desired stage of development, they are carefully retrieved through a minor surgical procedure. These eggs are then cooled and stored at extremely low temperatures, suspending their biological activity until they are thawed and used in the future.
In recent years, the practice of egg freezing has witnessed a remarkable surge. With more women recognizing the importance of reproductive autonomy and the desire to extend their fertility options, egg freezing has become an increasingly popular choice.
At myTamarin we have fertility experts ready to talk you through the process of egg freezing and provide you with expert-led advice and guidance.
Social Egg Freezing
The term ‘social egg freezing’ is used to describe women who wish to delay having a baby until later in life.
Many women delay having a baby due to lifestyle factors such as career, finances and relationship status. Egg freezing allows a woman to freeze her eggs at the optimal fertile age (35 or younger) and use the ‘younger’ eggs in fertility treatment at a later time. Using younger eggs in fertility treatment results in a higher chance of achieving a pregnancy at an older age.
Why is egg freezing becoming more popular?
The increasing popularity of egg freezing can be attributed to various factors. Firstly, societal changes mean women are pursuing higher education, establishing careers, and delaying starting a family. Egg freezing allows a woman to continue pursuing other aspects of their life whilst also not feeling the pressure of having a child at the same time.
Another reason is the advancement in the technology behind the process. The improvement has resulted in a higher success rate with the frozen eggs and therefore more people are more likely to look into egg freezing.
Furthermore, advancements in freezing technology have led to increased availability of egg-freezing services in a broader range of fertility clinics. This, coupled with the reduction in costs, has also made the procedure more accessible to women from diverse backgrounds. Some companies and organisations have also recognised the importance of reproductive benefits and now offer financial support or insurance coverage for egg freezing, making it more feasible for women to pursue this option.
What are the barriers with egg freezing?
Despite the advancement of egg freezing over the years, it remains an expensive procedure that does not guarantee you a child. Over the last year, there have been warnings to women in the UK when it comes to egg freezing. Primarily due to the financial, physical, and emotional toll of the process.
The main guidance is to do as much research as possible before deciding to go ahead with it, so you are familiar with the potential costs, and process.
Fertility experts at myTamarin are always available to help talk through egg freezing and answer any questions an individual may have.
At the end of the day, Egg freezing empowers women by offering them the freedom to navigate their personal and professional lives while preserving the option to have children in the future. As awareness and accessibility continue to improve, the trend is expected to rise further, providing women with unprecedented reproductive choices and opportunities.
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