Who Is Egg Freezing For?

Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) is the collection of a woman's eggs while they are young and of high quality, then freezing and storing them for use in the future. For women who wish to postpone motherhood because of career plans, not having yet found the right partner, or health reasons, it is the most effective, scientifically proven method of preserving fertility.

This content was prepared under the medical supervision of Op. Dr. Armağan Ulubaş.

Why Is Egg Freezing on Everyone's Mind?

The single most decisive factor in female fertility is age. Every woman is born with a certain number of eggs; this reserve declines over time and is never replenished. More importantly, as age advances the genetic quality of the eggs falls: while the proportion of chromosomally normal eggs is high in a woman's twenties, after the age of 40 this proportion decreases markedly. Egg freezing, in a sense, stops this biological clock; a frozen egg retains the quality it had at the age it was frozen. In other words, an egg frozen at 30 still carries the pregnancy potential of a 30-year-old when it is used at 40.

Who Is Egg Freezing Recommended For?

Egg freezing may be chosen for both medical and social reasons. The groups for whom specialists particularly recommend this method are as follows:

• Women who are consciously postponing motherhood and approaching the age of 35
• Those whose ovarian reserve (AMH value) is found to be low for their age
• Those with a family history of early menopause
• Cancer patients before chemotherapy or radiotherapy
• Those scheduled for ovarian surgery due to endometriosis (chocolate cyst)
• Couples for whom sperm cannot be obtained on the egg collection day during IVF treatment

For women at risk of early menopause, timing is especially critical; we explained the stages of the hormonal process leading to menopause in detail in our article on the different stages of menopause.

Age Limit and Ideal Timing for Egg Freezing

Although there is no strict legal upper age limit, the ideal window is biologically clear: the most productive age range for egg freezing is 25-35. During this period both the number of eggs that can be collected and their genetic quality are high. While the 35-38 age range is still considered a suitable period, after the age of 40 the chance of pregnancy with frozen eggs decreases significantly. The most accurate step at the decision stage is to assess ovarian reserve with an AMH test and ultrasound; suitability and the expected number of eggs can only be predicted individually through this evaluation.

The answer to how many eggs should be frozen also depends on age: while 10-15 mature eggs provide a reasonable safeguard for most women under 35, more eggs may be needed at older ages, and more than one collection procedure may be planned to achieve this.

How Does the Process Work?

The egg freezing process is the same as the first half of IVF treatment. With hormone injections started on the second or third day of the period, the ovaries are stimulated for around 8-12 days; development is monitored with ultrasound and blood tests. Once the eggs have matured, they are collected under light anaesthesia in a 15-20 minute procedure. The mature eggs are frozen the same day. At our centre in Cyprus, the treatment plan is arranged so that the required stay on the island is 5-7 days; part of the injections can be administered in the city where you live.

When you wish to become a mother in the future, the eggs are thawed, fertilised with your partner's sperm using the ICSI method, and the developing embryo is transferred to the uterus; this part of the process is the same as IVF treatment.

Egg Freezing or Embryo Freezing?

It is important to distinguish between two frequently confused concepts. In egg freezing the cells are stored without being fertilised; this is the suitable option for women who do not yet have a partner or who want flexibility for the future. In embryo freezing, the eggs are first fertilised with the partner's sperm and the developing embryos are stored; this route is generally used for the surplus good-quality embryos that remain during IVF treatment. Which method is appropriate is decided together with the doctor according to marital status, age, treatment plan and each country's legal regulations.

Vitrification: Where the Technology Makes the Difference

The egg is the largest cell in the human body and has the highest water content; this is why freezing it is technically difficult. With the old slow-freezing methods, ice crystals forming inside the cell could damage the egg. In the vitrification (rapid glassification) technique used today, the egg is cooled to -196 degrees within seconds and turned into a glass-like structure before ice crystals have any chance to form. In the Clavis laboratory, eggs frozen by vitrification achieve a survival rate of up to 99% after thawing. Frozen eggs can be stored safely for many years without any loss of quality.

It should not be forgotten that egg freezing is not a promise of pregnancy but a strong insurance for the future; the outcome depends on the number of eggs frozen, the age at freezing and the circumstances at the time they are used. With more than 23 years of experience and expertise reaching over 45,000 families, the Clavis team shares all the data with you transparently so that you can make this decision soundly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an age limit for egg freezing?
There is no strict upper age limit; however, the ideal window is before the age of 35, when egg quality is high. After 38-40, the chance of pregnancy from frozen eggs drops noticeably; suitability is assessed individually through ovarian reserve tests.

How long can frozen eggs be stored?
Eggs frozen with vitrification can be stored for many years without loss of quality. Storage periods vary according to each country's legal regulations and can be extended regularly.

Is the procedure painful, and does it affect daily life?
Egg collection is performed under light anaesthesia; you are discharged the same day and most women return to their daily routine the next day. Mild bloating and tenderness may occur during the hormone injection phase, and these are temporary.

Will every frozen egg result in a baby?
No; not every egg successfully passes the thawing, fertilisation and embryo development stages. For this reason your doctor determines the target number of eggs according to your age and, if necessary, may recommend more than one collection cycle.