From prioritizing career goals to waiting for the right life partner, women worldwide choose to freeze their eggs for various reasons. According to a survey conducted by NYU (New York University), where experts aimed to understand the motivations behind egg freezing, 80% of respondents cited the lack of a partner as their primary reason for not starting a family yet. Moreover, a small study revealed that 87% of women who opted to freeze their eggs were not in a relationship at the time. These findings suggest that the decision to freeze eggs is more common than one might assume. If concerns about your biological clock arise, egg freezing is a viable option, thanks to technological advancements. Finding the best time for this procedure, on the other hand, is something that should be done with careful consideration.
Ideally, the 20s to the early and mid-30s are the best time for women to freeze eggs. FertilTree, which stands at the forefront of advancements in assisted reproductive technology, has the best fertility specialists to help ensure optimal conditions for egg freezing and preservation.
This blog aims to shed light on the best time to freeze eggs for women who plan to procreate.
What’s the Best Age to Freeze Your Eggs: Table of Content
What Is Egg Freezing?
Egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, is a procedure wherein a woman’s eggs are extracted, later frozen, and stored at temperatures at -187 degrees Centigrade in an embryology lab. When the woman decides she wishes to get pregnant, the eggs are then thawed and injected with sperm to create an embryo, which is later implanted in her uterus.
Why Should Someone Freeze Their Eggs?
While there are no guarantees, preserving your eggs increases the likelihood of having children, offering a sense of security, especially if future fertility is uncertain. Here are some of the many reasons most women choose to freeze their eggs:
- Career Pursuits: Many women wish to focus on their careers and delay having children. This is when egg freezing offers a way to preserve fertility for the future.
- Future Family Planning: For women who are not ready for children at the moment but anticipate wanting them in the future, freezing eggs allows them to extend the window of fertility.
- Medical Conditions: Women facing medical conditions impacting fertility may choose to freeze eggs before undergoing treatments that could affect reproductive health. Sometimes, egg freezing is done prior to starting chemotherapy.
- Family History: A family history of early menopause is one of the reasons women consider egg freezing as a proactive measure.
- Ethical or Religious Concerns: Some women with ethical or religious concerns about reproductive practices may resort to egg freezing.
How Does Your Age Impact Your Fertility?
A woman’s biological clock starts ticking from the moment of her birth, accompanied by a limited number of eggs. The quality and quantity of eggs peak around 24, and this upswing peak continues until approximately 34 years old. However, fertility begins to decline after the age of 35, and by the time a woman reaches 40, her reproductive clock may be running much behind. Beyond the age of 42, fertility is exceptional rather than a rule. And conception becomes increasingly challenging. By age 45, fertility has declined so much that getting pregnant naturally becomes improbable and possibly impossible.
Taking into account the right age for procreation is crucial. For instance, taking proactive steps, such as egg freezing in the 30s, can significantly increase the likelihood of a successful pregnancy, even when attempting to conceive at 40.
Factors That May Affect The Timing Of Egg Freezing
Various factors can influence the success of egg freezing, and understanding these factors is quite essential for women:
- Age: As a woman ages, the quality and quantity of eggs gradually decline. This makes it crucial to consider freezing eggs at a relatively young age, ideally between 25 and 35 years.
- Associated Medical Conditions: Conditions such as Endometriosis, Genital tuberculosis, uncontrolled Diabetes, and Autoimmune conditions can impact egg quality. Being aware of these medical conditions is vital as they are significant factors affecting the egg-freezing procedure, timing and quality.
- Stimulation Protocols and Injections: Selecting the right stimulation protocol and choosing appropriate injections and doses are important for getting the best results in the egg-freezing process.
- Best Clinics: Choosing a reputable IVF clinic, such as FertilTree, that maintains the IVF laboratory environment according to standards is essential for ensuring the safety and long-term storage of frozen eggs. Moreover, experts in these clinics will be able to help determine the right time to freeze eggs.
- Skilled Technicians/Embryologists: The expertise of skilled embryologists is vital for the success of the egg-freezing procedure. Their expertise is crucial in determining the right time to freeze eggs and achieving positive outcomes.
Are there certain medical conditions and circumstances that can alter your ability to produce viable eggs?
If a woman is undergoing cancer treatment, it can affect the viability of her eggs. Advancing age, high blood pressure and diabetes can cause a deterioration in the quality of the eggs.
The Best Time To Freeze Your Eggs
As mentioned earlier, the best time for women to freeze eggs is in their 20s to 30s, is ideally 25 to 35.
As age advances, particularly for women in their 30s and 40s, fertility is marked by a significant decrease in the quality and quantity of eggs. Considering egg freezing at an earlier stage is recommended, as postponing this decision can increase the risks of miscarriages, birth defects, and challenges in conception, among others.
Read more: How to Improve Egg Quality After 40
Read more: Top Foods To Improve Female Egg Quality
FAQs on What’s the Best Age to Freeze Your Eggs
1. Is it possible to freeze my eggs if I’m aged 40 and over?
Although it is possible to freeze your eggs at the age of 40, the quality and quantity are unlikely to be adequate. At the age of 40, we would need to freeze a minimum of 30 eggs, which means carrying out 5 to 8 cycles. Also, only 10% of the eggs are genetically normal at the age of 40. Hence, it is best to freeze eggs between the ages of 24 and 35.
2. What is the egg-freezing success rate?
It is not always possible to predict the success rate correctly. However, there is a higher success rate when a woman’s eggs are extracted before age thirty.
3. How long can eggs be stored?
As per current data, storing frozen eggs for a long duration of time does not indicate adverse effects. However, the longer the eggs are stored and the women wait longer to become pregnant, the risks of complications, including diabetes, high blood pressure and the need for a cesarean section, also increase. Also, several clinics enforce an age limit for utilizing stored eggs to achieve pregnancy.
4. Does freezing my eggs guarantee a live birth?
As of now, the simple answer is no. Quality and quantity of eggs, the woman’s age and health are some of the important factors to consider when trying to become pregnant.
Final Thoughts
Thanks to technological advancements, egg freezing is now a proactive and empowering option for women who wish to extend their fertility or have uncertainties about future family planning. Remember that success rates are higher when the procedure is performed at a younger age. So, consider freezing your eggs before you reach the age of 35.
If you want to freeze your eggs or have more enquiries regarding this topic, call Dilnavaz at +91 9920842070 or email [email protected].
Sources:
Chaitanya, Tanya. “This Festive Season, Let’s Prioritise Wellness & Self-Care.” Largest Content & Social Networking Platform for Women, 29 Oct. 2023, www.hercircle.in/engage/wellness/reproductive-health/interview-with-dr-firuza-parikh-director-hn-reliance-hospital-6131.html.
“Egg Freezing: Process, Cost, and What to Expect.” Healthline, Healthline Media, www.healthline.com/health/egg-freezing-process. Accessed 15 Jan. 2024.
“Egg Freezing: Should You Consider It?” Egg Freezing: About the Process & the Age Should You Consider It | Houston Methodist, www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2022/jan/egg-freezing-should-you-consider-it/. Accessed 15 Jan. 2024.
Patterson, Hannah. “8 Common Questions about Freezing Eggs for a Later Pregnancy.” Care Fertility, carefertility.com.au/resources/blog/8-common-questions-about-freezing-eggs-for-a-later-pregnancy. Accessed 15 Jan. 2024.
“Today, 90% Infertility Cases Can Be Treated: Dr Firuza Parikh.” DNA India, www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/interview-today-90-infertility-cases-can-be-treated-dr-firuza-parikh-2062730. Accessed 15 Jan. 2024.
