Egg cryopreservation (egg freezing): when is the right time?

Fertility is a precious commodity in a woman’s life, but it becomes limited after a few years. If you are delaying conception to allow time to develop a relationship, advance an advanced education, or establish a business or career, consider the effects of age on your fertility.

A woman is most fertile from the age of 18 to 29. Above the age of 30, her fertility gradually declines and this decline accelerates in her late 30s and early 40s. This is why conceiving at these ages can be a real challenge for many women. In fact, normal conception without the help of technology, assisted reproduction,  is quite rare as early as age 43.

However, cryopreservation allows you to store younger eggs with higher fertility for later use. This risk-reduction strategy can increase your chances of conception by 5 to 10 times. Cryopreservation  is also an option for women suffering from endometriosis or undergoing chemotherapy, or suffering from autoimmune diseases, conditions that can also affect your fertility.

When deciding the ‘right age’ to freeze your eggs, it is important to consider factors such as your medical history, relationship status, and education and career plans, along with the age at which your fertility rates are declining. In general, the younger you are, the better the results of cryopreservation. Younger women produce higher numbers of eggs and better quality eggs, so they are more likely to conceive. The longer you choose to delay trying for pregnancy, the more you will benefit from early egg cryopreservation.  There is no ‘ideal age’ for freezing eggs. The age is a function of each woman’s choices and medical history.

Freezing eggs is not a necessity, it is an option.

In any case, egg cryopreservation is a safe procedure both for the woman herself and for the children born from frozen eggs.