Egg freezing has become an increasingly common and well-understood option for women wanting to take a proactive approach to their fertility, whether that's to create more time before starting a family or to preserve future options ahead of medical treatment. Whatever your reasons for considering fertility preservation, Dr Mandana Master provides evidence-based guidance to help you understand your options and make a decision that's right for you.
Fertility preservation refers to a range of medical techniques used to protect a person’s ability to have biological children in the future. This may involve freezing eggs, sperm, embryos, or reproductive tissue, allowing them to be used later when the time is right – whether that’s years down the track, or after completing treatment for a medical condition that may affect natural fertility.
There are many reasons someone might choose to preserve their fertility, and there’s no single “right” reason to consider it. Common circumstances include:
Whether due to not having found the right partner, focusing on career, financial stability, or education, or simply not feeling ready to start a family yet.
Such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or certain surgeries.
Such as endometriosis, premature ovarian insufficiency, or a family history of early menopause.
Where preserving the option of biological children beforehand may be important.
Where surplus viable eggs, sperm, or embryos can be frozen for future use.
Even without a specific medical reason, simply to preserve future options while you’re young and fertility is at its peak.
Dr Mandana will talk through your individual circumstances and goals to help you understand whether fertility preservation is right for you, and what outcomes you might realistically expect.
Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, follows a similar early process to IVF, up until the point where eggs would otherwise be fertilised.
Hormonal medication is used over approximately 10–14 days to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Regular monitoring through blood tests and ultrasound tracks your progress and response.
Once the eggs have matured, a short procedure under sedation is performed to retrieve them, generally taking around 20–30 minutes.
Mature eggs are rapidly frozen using a technique called vitrification, which prevents ice crystals from forming and helps preserve the egg’s structure for future use. Eggs can remain frozen for many years without a significant reduction in quality.
Frozen eggs are securely stored until you’re ready to use them, at which point they are thawed, fertilised (often using intracytoplasmic sperm injection), and transferred as part of an IVF cycle.
It’s worth understanding from the outset that not every frozen egg will go on to result in a pregnancy. On average, the majority of eggs survive the thawing process and a good proportion of those go on to fertilise, but the number of eggs frozen and the age at which they were frozen both significantly influence future chances of success.
Egg freezing is one of several fertility preservation options available, and the right choice depends on individual circumstances, sex, and reproductive goals.
Dr Mandana works closely with patients of all genders considering fertility preservation, including coordinating care with oncologists and other specialists where treatment timelines are time-sensitive.
If you need specialist advice and care for achieving your family building goals, you’ve come to the right place. Get in touch with Dr Mandana Master at Embrace Fertility today.
