Egg Freezing
What Is the Best Age to Freeze Eggs?
Growing awareness of a woman’s biological clock has resulted in a surge of interest in fertility preservation. Historically, a woman’s reproductive options were limited by her biological clock. With egg freezing (also known as oocyte cryopreservation), women are now empowered to take control of their fertility. Egg freezing gives women the opportunity to “press pause” and try to stop the clock until they are ready to start a family. Women who are considering this option often ask what is the best age to freeze eggs?
Egg freezing was considered experimental until 2013. In 2013, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) published a statement saying that egg freezing should no longer be considered experimental. Additionally, studies have shown that there is no documented increase in chromosomal abnormalities, birth defects, or developmental deficits associated with the use of frozen eggs.
What Is the Best Age to Freeze Eggs?
Egg quantity and quality decline with age. Women in their 20s and early 30s are typically ideal candidates for egg freezing. Most women should typically aim to freeze at least 15-20 eggs. It may take more than one cycle to reach that goal, depending on the individual woman’s pool of eggs.
Egg Freezing Success Rates
A recent study published in Fertility and Sterility confirmed what we always suspected – the age at which a woman freezes her eggs and the number of eggs frozen make a significant difference in her likelihood of achieving a successful pregnancy using her frozen eggs. Specifically, women who froze their eggs prior to age 38 or froze more than 20 eggs had a live birth rate greater than 50%. Women who were not able to achieve a pregnancy with their frozen eggs were more likely to be older when they froze eggs and more likely to have only frozen a small number of eggs.
Learning More About Egg Freezing
At Fertility Centers of New England, we have a wealth of experience with oocyte cryopreservation, and we are very proud of our pregnancy rates from fresh and frozen eggs. We understand that the decision to freeze eggs is an important one—physically, psychologically, and financially. If you are interested in learning more about freezing your eggs, please contact us today to schedule a consultation with one of our fertility experts.
