There are many common misconceptions surrounding egg freezing. Here is the truth behind eight common egg freezing myths.
Egg Freezing Myth 1: It’s a New Procedure with Little Information about Success Rates
This year, Shady Grove Fertility published the largest study of its kind detailing pregnancy rates using frozen eggs in the U.S. Through December 2014, Shady Grove Fertility physicians performed 1,171 egg freezing cycles for 875 women who intended to use their eggs for future use. As of January 2015, 117 of these women returned to undergo 128 cycles using their frozen eggs.
At the time of the study, there were 51 pregnancies, resulting in 55 children, with eight children on the way. These results have confirmed that IVF cycles with frozen eggs produce similar pregnancy rates as IVF cycles with fresh eggs.
Egg Freezing Myth 2: You Can Only Have One Child
Through the same study, Shady Grove Fertility’s physician research team was able to provide an estimate of the probability that egg freezing could produce one, two, or three children—with the results dependent on the age a woman freezes and how many mature eggs she has frozen.
For women younger than 38, 15 to 20 frozen mature eggs provided an estimated 70 to 80 percent chance of a least one child and 70 to 80 percent chance of having two children. For women 38 to 40 years old, 25 to 30 frozen mature eggs offers a 65 to 75 percent chance of at least one child and 65 to 75 percent chance of having two children. Your physician can individualize these recommendations according to your specific family building goals.
Egg Freezing Myth 3: You Should Freeze Your Eggs at 40
Age is the primary condition that affects a woman’s fertility. Women are born with all of the eggs she will ever have, and over time they diminish in quality and quantity. While women can freeze their eggs at Shady Grove Fertility up to age 40, to have the best chance at freezing enough high quality eggs, we recommend women freeze their eggs in their early- to mid-30s.
Egg Freezing Myth 4: Egg Freezing Causes Early Menopause
No, egg freezing does not cause early menopause. Every month a woman’s body prepares several eggs that may develop, typically with just one that is mature enough to produce a pregnancy. During the egg freezing process, we harvest that entire set of eggs, which in turn does not impair your future fertility. Egg freezing has no impact on menopause, which is a genetically predetermined issue.
Egg Freezing Myth 5: It’s Only for Single Women
Women choose to freeze their eggs for a variety of reasons. Many face illnesses like endometriosis or cancer, which can impair fertility; while others want more time to find the right partner or situation. Others select egg freezing even with a partner because they have decided to wait to have a family.
Egg Freezing Myth 6: The Ability to Freeze Your Eggs is for the Rich and Famous
At Shady Grove Fertility, making access to quality care more affordable is a priority. Therefore, in 2013, Shady Grove Fertility introduced a popular financial option for egg freezing: Assure Fertility. Assure Fertility includes up to four rounds of treatment or 20 high quality eggs to freeze for one fixed cost. We also offer an elective egg freezing guarantee, which is a unique money-back guarantee that gives women the opportunity to pay a fixed cost to use their frozen eggs to have a baby. Women who enroll in the program will receive a full refund if they don’t take home a baby. Monthly payment options are available through Fertility Finance.
Egg Freezing Myth 7: I’m Healthy, I Should Be Fine
For some women, freezing their eggs gives them peace of mind in a season of life incongruous to starting a family. Basic fertility testing can assess your ovarian reserve, or your current fertility. A clearer picture of your ovarian function may lead you to opt for elective fertility preservation.
Shady Grove Fertility physician, Shruti Malik, M.D., of the Fair Oaks and Woodbridge, VA offices, chose to freeze her eggs after getting tested with her girlfriends. Although they were all the same age, one of her friends unexpectedly had a low ovarian reserve, convincing Dr. Malik that egg freezing could help prevent any unexpected surprises when she is ready to start a family.
Egg Freezing Myth 8: I’ll Miss Too Much Work
While an egg freezing cycle may take 4 to 6 weeks to complete, there are only certain appointments that may impact your daily schedule and occur during our regular office hours: your initial fertility testing appointment, physician consultation, and regular monitoring appointments during the medicated portion of your cycle, and finally the egg retrieval.
The very good news is that many of these appointments are available beginning at 7:00 a.m. and we have several office locations throughout Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania to best fit your needs.
The egg retrieval is the only time when we recommend taking time off from school or work. Most women are able to return to regular activities within a day or two.
To learn more about Shady Grove Fertility’s egg freezing program, call 1-877-411-9292 to speak with one of our New Patient Liaisons or register for one of our upcoming patient educational events.
