Oocyte Freezing - All You Should Know About It!

Oocyte freezing is a path-breaking technology that was first done successfully in the 1980s. Over the past three decades, with a high success rate, oocyte or egg cell freezing is a boon to women who want to preserve their fertility. It also helps women with cancer undergoing chemotherapy or whose ovaries must be surgically removed to experience the joy of motherhood.

What is Oocyte Freezing?

In this process, a woman’s egg cells or oocytes are extracted and preserved in sub-zero temperatures. The egg cells can be thawed at a later stage and combined with sperms in the lab. It can then be introduced into the uterus to induce pregnancy.

How is the procedure performed?

First, the doctor will examine the quality and quantity of your oocytes. The amount of Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Estradiol in the menstrual blood of the third day of your cycle is also examined. After a complete assessment of the health of your egg cells and screening for infectious diseases like HIV, you can begin the procedure. You can resume your regular activities after a week of the procedure.

After the tests and screening, hormones are injected to stop ovulation for 2 to 4 weeks. More hormones, to ripen multiple eggs in the ovary, are injected after that. After the eggs mature, they are extracted through the vagina with the help of an ultrasound-guided needle. The eggs are immediately frozen using a slow controlled rate process or a faster vitrification process. When you are ready for a baby, the cryopreserved eggs are placed in a warming solution, injected with a sperm and allowed to grow into the embryo. Introducing the embryo into the uterus is usually done after 3 to 5 days.

Who should do it?

• Women undergoing chemotherapy or pelvic radiation therapy that can potentially affect fertility
• Women with a family history of early menopause
• Ovarian diseases that damage the ovaries
• Women with conditions like Turner Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, BRCA Mutation, which causes failure of ovaries or genetic mutation
• Women with personal reasons to delay pregnancy

Oocyte freezing is an empowering decision for many women, who otherwise could not have conceived. With a success rate of 75%, women suffering from cancer or gynaecological problems can experience the joy of motherhood. The younger you are at the time of freezing, the higher are your chances of motherhood.