Egg Freezing
What you need to know to prepare
Fertility’s get out of jail free card?
The option to preserve fertility and delay childbirth is becoming more common with the increased use of egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation). Egg freezing has been around since the late 1900’s. Though originally used to spare the eggs of women undergoing cancer treatment, more women are choosing “social egg freezing” or “elective’ (non-medical). The number one reason cited was lack of partner, while other women had more professional reasons like wanting to advance their careers, complete their education, financial, phycological, or that it just isn’t a good time right now but they didn’t want the door to close.
in 2013 the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, cautioned against the use of egg freezing for fertility preservation against age related infertility. They warned that there is limited research and data about the safety, success, cost-effectiveness, and emotional risks of egg freezing. Yet, rates are still going up. With the acceptance and mainstream awareness it’s not hard to see why. Add in the fact that some companies like Apple and Facebook include some coverage as part of employee benefits, the appeal is there.
How it works
In case you don’t already understand the basics of egg freezing let me quickly explain. Just as in any egg retrieval, each woman’s ovaries are stimulated to produce multiple eggs instead of the one dominate egg in natural cycles. She is monitored to check on the growth the eggs and the anticipated retrieval time. Then using transvaginal ultrasound, those eggs are removed from the ovaries and flash frozen in a processed called vitrification. Frozen eggs can technically last forever, but are eliminated after 10 years. When they are ready, women choose to thaw their eggs and then continue the process similar to IVF. As the process has evolved, the process of vitrification, essentially flash freezing, has proven to be better for the eggs vs the other option of slow freezing which can produce ice crystals in the eggs.
Is it safe?
If you are choosing to freeze your eggs my advice is the same as other “debated” topics. Do your research and go in with your eyes open. Freezing your eggs does not make you exempt from complications later and does not guarantee you a baby.
Here are some stats you need to know (based on ideal 20 egg retrieval)
Egg survival rate post freezing and thaw → 90-97%
Egg fertilization rate → 71-79%
Successful implantation rate → 17-41%
Clinical pregnancy rate per frozen and thawed egg → 4.5-12%
Number of live birth rates → 2-12% for women under 38
Note: this data from women under 30, normally seeking medical egg freezing
Clinical pregnancy rates decline with age at the time of freezing
Data on social egg freezing is limited
Women freeze their eggs because they see some primary benefit opposed to just waiting to try later. They have a better chance of having biological children with a lower risk of chromosome issue as seen with older moms. As for inherent risk at the time of retrieval and freezing, the most important consideration is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Though rare, OHSS does affect some women causing pain, nausea, bloating, fatigue, and breast tenderness. Medical intervention and death are rarer still.
Egg health
Before you can get to egg freezing, you must first do egg retrieval and ovarian stimulation. This is where I suggest you focus your efforts. Women may be limited to a max of 4 egg retrieval cycles. You are hoping to get at least 20 eggs to give the best success of live births in the end (see stats above). So you need to make sure your eggs can develop and mature properly and that they are viable in quality as well. Normally, it takes 120 days for egg to fully mature, during that time it is receptive to its environment, both good and bad. Of course stimulation shortens the receptive window, but you still have a chance to support your egg health. More and more research is pointing to the effectiveness of “egg quality diets” and the ability to improve the quality of eggs recruited in natural or stimulated cycles. If you want to support your eggs your focus should be on protecting them from harm and supplying them with all the nutrients they require.
Antioxidants: protect developing eggs from oxidative damage that can cause issues with DNA and chromosomes (often seen with advanced maternal age)
Eat foods high in key antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, like oranges, green leafy vegetables, and oysters and other seafood
Reduce inflammation: some foods are known to harm your fertility and increase inflammation which affects how well your reproductive system can function
Avoid excess added sugar (24 g of added sugar per day is more than enough)
Avoid fried foods and packaged and processed foods made with junky oils like canola, vegetable, and hydrogenated oils
Instead add anti-inflammatory foods like fatty fish (salmon, tuna), flax and chia seeds, and spices like ginger and turmeric.
Energy/mitochondria: as your eggs mature they require an immense amount of energy and nutrients to fuel their energy centers (mitochondria). Again, meeting the energy requirements of your growing eggs can be the difference between chromosome issues
Avoid severe calorie restricting diets and eat nutrient dense meals throughout the day. That means planning balanced meals and snacks a with protein, carb, and fat. a lot of women eat too few calories without even realizing it.
CoQ10 supplements can be used to specifically energize your cells and mitochondria.
Stress management: one way you can support your egg health when preparing for freezing is to reduce your stress levels and find suitable ways to diffuse it. Your cortisol levels increase with stress and has been clearly shown to negatively impact fertility.
Address your main sources of stress and remove them when possible
Develop a clear self-care routine that allows you to reduce your cortisol levels. This can be anything you choose that brings your joy and relaxation (candlelit bath, walking in nature, reading, meditating, getting a massage...whatever you can do to counteract and avoid more stress
Sleep: melatonin levels increase while we sleep and higher levels of this hormone is seen in retrieved eggs that are considered healthy
Create a sleep or bedtime routine that allows you to slowly wind down from your normal evening routine so you body knows to prepare for sleep
Add relaxing teas or rituals like a specific evening face regime
What does it mean for you?
You should feel supported and be free to pursue any means of becoming a mother now or in the future. Currently there is not much data on social egg freezing with young healthy women as most of it the data is from older women with fertility issues. There is no intrinsic risk of egg freezing except the possibility of OHSS and the exact benefit is not completely understood yet either. Nothing and no one can guarantee a baby. Ensuring your whole body health at the time of retrieval and egg transfer is your best hope of personally affecting the outcome. The best fertility clinic cannot fix your internal and external environment. Only you can do that...and you CAN do that!!
XO Ericka
*This blog was written for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with your fertility specialist before following any of the provided recommendations to ensure they do not interfere with your egg retrieval protocol.
