themselves in finding the one. Egg freezing empowers the woman to take control of her own fertility in her own time. Ethical or religious reasons that deter from embryo freezing During the embryo freezing process, many individuals or couples are left with excess embryos, which often entails the prospect having to destroy them via selective termination. This harbours complex religious and ethical consequences for some individuals or couples, whilst egg freezing allows for fertilisation of only the eggs that will be used in the IVF process. Women with a family history of early menopause Some forms of premature ovarian failure, or early menopause, are genetic. Women with a family history of this condition have a chance to preserve eggs before they are depleted. Cost The combined costs for the entire procedure will vary between clinics, but generally range between $6,000 and $10,000 including testing, monitoring, medications and the egg freezing. Egg storage costs will also vary, and may increase Women ’s Health at certain intervals. Generally clinics will charge another cost for the egg thawing (or warming), fertilisation and embryo transfer procedures, which should all be reviewed, evaluated and discussed with your partner and fertility specialist prior to selecting the clinic. The costs may seem daunting, but individuals, families and specialists consider this as an investment and an invaluable step towards future parenthood. Payment plans and insurance concerns can be discussed with the clinic’s billing manager. Making the Decision Egg freezing has been upheld as an empowering and gratifying experience by thousands of women around the world, and with the wealth of information and resources that we have access to today, the procedure is quickly growing in prominence on the IVF scene. Educating yourself about egg freezing is the first, and arguably most important, step and all women considering this path should dedicate a sufficient period of time to researching the associated pros, cons, risks and rewards before committing. Egg freezing is a proactive step towards a future family, and may be the right option for you to put a pause on that biological clock. pm quantity. Youth is the key to better quantity and quality of eggs, which is why fertility experts encourage early egg extraction. Success Rates According to the USC Fertility Organisation of the United States, there have been approximately 2,000 babies born from frozen eggs, and so far no results that associate an increased risk of birth defects when compared to natural conception. Although this figure is significantly lower when compared to 300,000 babies born worldwide from the frozen embryo procedure, egg freezing is relatively new and was only recognised as an official fertility technique by the ASRM (American Society of Reproductive Medicine) in 2012. It is anticipated that egg freezing will continue to constitute a viable alternative to embryo and sperm freezing. As mentioned, age is an extremely important factor of pregnancy success rates. It is recommended that women who are considering egg freezing undertake the procedure before 38 years of age. There have been a number of successful pregnancies among women aged 40 and over that fertilised their eggs prior to turning 38 years old. Based on international primary data, there is a 75% success rate between both the egg thawing and fertilisation stages. In other words, if ten eggs are frozen, seven are expected to withstand thawing, and generally five to six will be fertilised and become embryos. It is recommended that women store at least ten eggs for each pregnancy attempt. Most women under 38 years of age will harvest between ten and twenty eggs per cycle. W hy? Women diagnosed with cancer Egg freezing offers a chance to women diagnosed with cancer to preserve eggs prior to chemotherapy, surgery or radiation, which all destroy eggs and result in infertility. Although some eggs may be present following cancer treatment, their quality and quantity are not promising. Women who want to postpone pregnancy for Social reasons Nowadays, women are having children much later than they used to, which is primarily due to a higher and now customary level of female independence in career, educational and family life ambitions. While the eggs are affected with age, the uterus maintains the adequate health for pregnancy into the 40s and 50s. Women may also want to preserve their eggs in waiting for a life-long partner. Women who have undertaken the procedure commonly acknowledge a sense of relief in knowing they do not have to rush pindaramagazine.com.au Pindara Magazine 45
Pindara Private Hospital Magazine - Issue Three
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