In the world of assisted reproductive technologies, egg freezing serves as a means to safeguard women's future fertility by harvesting mature oocytes, vitrifying them, and storing them for potential use in the future by creating embryos through in vitro fertilization (IVF). The confidence in successfully freezing human eggs has grown only recently among researchers. More women are exploring this option for various reasons:
- Medical Treatments: Certain treatments, like radiation or chemotherapy, can adversely affect egg quantity and quality. Egg freezing offers the possibility of having biological children post-treatment.
- IVF: Following an egg retrieval cycle, some eggs can be fertilized for an immediate pregnancy attempt, while others are stored for future attempts, creating embryos on demand.
- Fertility Preservation: Young, unmarried women starting their careers may choose to freeze their eggs for future use. The eggs can be thawed, fertilized, and transferred when they decide to start a family.
The popularity of the last reason is increasing, and the key to successful egg freezing lies in the woman's age. Egg quality diminishes with age, making early freezing more likely to yield eggs that endure the freezing and thawing process.
However, the process comes with significant costs, both financially and emotionally. Each egg retrieval cycle takes months, and multiple cycles may be necessary. The procedure costs about $10,000, excluding medication expenses. Annual storage fees of approximately $600 and IVF cycle costs ranging from $5,000 to $12,000 further contribute to the financial burden.
Considering these challenges, one alternative is gaining traction: embryo adoption. This successful option involves adopting embryos created in previous IVF cycles, eliminating the need for costly egg retrieval. It is a proven, affordable, and less invasive option for achieving a future pregnancy.
As individuals contemplate the decision to freeze their eggs, it's crucial to be aware of this viable alternative. To learn more about embryo adoption, visit www.Snowflakes.org.