Can You Place A Pause On Your Fertility?
Fertility refers to the ability to conceive naturally. Women and men achieve peak fertility as young adults. Over time, especially for women, this window closes. For instance, women have a set ovarian reserve, which reduces in quality and quantity. Social reasons, career goals, or health challenges can prevent individuals from having children during the peak years of fertility. Science and medicine have introduced fertility cryopreservation to save eggs, sperm, or embryos. Preserving reproductive eggs or embryos extends reproductive potential, allowing women or couples to have biological children later. Understanding the differences between egg and embryo freezing helps those interested in making the best decision.
Putting eggs on ice
Egg freezing or oocyte cryopreservation uses extremely low temperatures to freeze multiple eggs for use at a later date. This modern method of fertility preservation consists of the production, extraction, and preservation of eggs from the ovaries. Egg freezing helps women preserve fertility potential. The process requires the woman to take a suitable combination of hormone medication to produce multiple eggs. Once the eggs mature in the ovaries, a simple, minimally invasive surgical procedure extracts the follicles. The retrieved eggs are then rapidly frozen using a technique called vitrification and stored in liquid nitrogen.
Saving embryos for later
Embryo freezing is the preservation of fertilized eggs for future pregnancy. Eggs combined with sperm form embryos that eventually implant into the uterus and develop into a baby. During a natural pregnancy, 1-2 embryos form during a reproductive cycle. Embryo freezing facilitates the creation of multiple embryos and is often part of in vitro fertilization (IVF), a form of reproductive treatment. A woman takes hormone medication to produce multiple eggs that are then extracted using the same surgical technique. These eggs are then fertilized using a sperm sample from a partner or donor. Over a few short days, the embryos develop and are frozen using the same vitrification process.
Egg vs embryo freezing
Egg freezing is ideal for single women who wish to delay pregnancy. These women have healthy embryos but realize that pregnancy is not in the immediate future. Career goals, a lack of a suitable partner, or health challenges can spur egg freezing. Women with a high risk of early menopause or ovarian failure also consider egg freezing. Using a partner or donor sperm and IVF, women who choose egg freezing can have children later. Embryo freezing is more common among women or couples already on the fertility journey and have additional viable embryos after the initial transfer. The procedure is also useful for couples or women who already have an intended sperm donor. Those already going through IVF depend on egg freezing if a cycle fails or genetic testing is required.
Factors impacting the deep freeze
There are advantages and disadvantages of both procedures. Egg freezing preserves reproductive autonomy as a partner or sperm donor is not required at the time of freezing. The process is also more attainable, allowing women to retain high-quality eggs at a younger age. At the same time, eggs tend to be more fragile than embryos and can be damaged in thawing. Since eggs may not be tested, the future success of fertilization may be unknown. Embryos tend to be more robust, holding up to the freezing and thawing process. Through genetic testing, there is more insight into fertilization potential. Embryos require immediate availability of sperm via a partner or donor. The embryos commit to a particular genetic combination, which may lead to ethical or legal issues if relationship statuses change.
Make the right decision for your future
Cryopreservation helps to place a pause on fertility. Egg freezing is best for young, single individuals. Those facing immediate threats to reproductive health, such as cancer treatment, should also consider egg freezing. Embryo freezing is a great option for couples going through IVF or with future family planning aspirations. There are other factors to consider, including cost, storage duration, and the emotional readiness of the individual. There is no right or wrong choice, as the issue is personal and depends on individual circumstances. Receiving counsel from a fertility specialist or cryopreservation facility can help in making an informed decision that will lead to a healthy reproductive future.
