A few decades ago, the concept of freezing your eggs in preparation for potential future conception was something rarely spoken about. Far from common practice, it was usually only a consideration for women undergoing medical procedures or treatments.  

Today, as more women take ownership of their reproductive future, egg freezing has become far more common, with many young women choosing to proactively undergo the procedure years before they plan to have a family. 

As egg freezing rises in popularity across the country, understanding how and why someone may choose to preserve their fertility at a certain age or life stage has never been more important. Explaining the process and complexities of egg freezing with Body+Soul, Brendan Ayres, CEO of Connect IVF, shares everything a woman needs to know before considering the procedure. 

How has technology improved to reflect the rising demand?

As Ayres explains, advancements in egg-freezing technology over the decade have not only improved the success rates of procedures but also made the entire process far more accessible, “Changes in science have made egg freezing much more reliable so that IVF Clinics can offer egg freezing as a viable service. The main changes have been in the egg-freeze media and the egg-freeze methodology,” he says. 

“To break this down, egg-freeze media is the specialised solution used to protect the eggs during freezing and thawing, while egg-freezing methodology refers to the process and techniques (like vitrification or slow freezing) used to freeze and preserve the eggs,”

These recent improvements in egg-freezing media have increased egg survival rates during freezing and thawing, “The shift to vitrification as the primary method has further enhanced the success of fertility preservation by minimising ice crystal damage.”

What are the main reasons someone might consider freezing their eggs?

Though still used extensively for the purpose of preserving fertility in someone undergoing cancer or endocrine treatment, egg-freezing is now undertaken for a number of medical, professional and lifestyle reasons. 

“Some women have started to consider egg freezing more because they like to take the time pressure off themselves to find the right partner,” explains Ayres. “In recent years, as many women have become more heavily involved in their careers and choose to focus on this before starting a family, egg freezing provides some security for them to do this.”

Are there any complications someone should be aware of before freezing their eggs?

“Freezing eggs is less reliable than freezing embryos, which is what happens in a more traditional IVF cycle,” Ayres says. “You need to freeze many more eggs to ensure a level of security for a successful pregnancy. As a result, a woman will likely need to do more than a single cycle of egg freezing.”

Are there any misconceptions about egg freezing?

While the media and celebrities seemingly perpetuate the narrative that egg freezing unlocks a woman’s ability to conceive later in life, Ayres explains this is frankly misinformation, “Some celebrities who have used egg freezing to start their families later in life tend to omit the fact that they froze their eggs years prior. This provides the wrong impression that you can freeze your eggs at any age,” says Ayres. 

“The age you are when you freeze your eggs is critical. The earlier the better.”

What is the financial – and emotional cost – of egg freezing?

“An egg-freezing cycle at Connect IVF is less than $4,000. However, you will likely need more than one cycle,” shares Ayres.

“An egg-freezing cycle, like an IVF cycle, involves numerous blood tests, ultrasounds and injections. The whole egg-freeze process will take a couple of months. Be aware of the personal and time commitment involved.”

At what age should egg freezing be considered, and who is the ideal candidate for a successful procedure?

“Each patient is different, and to understand your egg-freeze options best, get assessed by your IVF Specialist. As a general guideline, it is better to freeze your eggs before the age of around 37, but please see your IVF Specialist for your personal fertility options,” Ayres says.