Ice Your Eggs:
How It Works

1. You’re already ahead of the game.
If you are thinking about fertility preservation and whether it is right for you, you are already way ahead of the game. Knowledge is power and understanding your body and fertility potential is critical to making educated choices for your future.

2. You will walk away with more than just frozen eggs.
To embark on an egg freezing cycle (medically called egg cryopreservation), testing and evaluation of your reproductive system is required. This would include an internal exam to get a look at your ovaries and bloodwork, which includes genetic testing. Ultimately you will walk away with a wealth of medical information about yourself that can help you in more aspects of your life than just reproduction.

3. This will require some work.
The process of freezing your eggs will require some work on your part. The first visit to the Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE) will involve a physical exam, including a transvaginal ultrasound as well as bloodwork to see if you are a good candidate to freeze your eggs. Once the results of all of your testing is back and you’re given the “green light”, you can embark on your egg freezing cycle.

During your cycle, you will take medication called gonadotropins for approximately 8-10 days prior to your egg retrieval. While you are on this medication, the growth of your eggs is monitored with ultrasound and blood tests to see when they will be ready. Around the time you would normally ovulate, you will have your egg retrieval procedure. During the egg retrieval, you will be placed under light sedation and your eggs are aspirated out of each of the follicles in your ovaries and are frozen that same day.

4. You’re going to need to get over your fear of needles.
In order to stimulate your ovaries, the gonadotropin medication mentioned above is taken by you in the form of daily subcutaneous injections. Luckily, the needle is small and causes a tiny prick on the skin. The needle is similar to the needle used by insulin dependent diabetics. A nurse will help guide you through this process to make you comfortable. If a family member or close friend is willing to administer the shots, you can employ their help as well.

5. It is not a guarantee.
It’s important to know that freezing eggs does not guarantee a baby, but it offers a reliable insurance plan. RE’s now feel the optimal amount of eggs to freeze to give yourself the highest possible take home baby rate is approximately 16-20.

6. We can investigate before getting started.
The bloodwork that we do at that first appointment tests two valuable and predictive hormones in terms of ovarian reserve called FSH and AMH. The FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and AMH (anti-mullerian hormone) both can aid in assessing ovarian potential. They can give us an indication of how many eggs you may have left — a low, average or high number. Through the test, it can be determined who may lose their fertility more quickly, as well as provide valuable insight around ovarian reserve.

7. The best time to freeze your eggs is between 30-40.
When weighing all factors of time and money, as well as, the social factors that may impact a woman’s decision to freeze her eggs somewhere between the ages of 30 to 40 is the most reasonable time to freeze.

8. You will feel lighter and think more clearly.
That 800lb gorilla that has been sitting on your shoulders? She’s gone. That ticking biological clock? You’ve broken it. We have seen many women walk away feeling freer, lighter and rejuvenated. They head back into their daily lives having relieved a great deal of pressure.

9. Having a consult does not commit you to a cycle.
Coming in for an appointment to meet with one of our physicians does not commit you to move forward. It gives you the detailed information you need about an egg freezing cycle with particulars about you that will help you make an informed decision.