A.3/ What You Need To Know About Egg Freezing
This article will help you think about the whole process of egg freezing.
Someone may be interested in freezing their eggs for a number of reasons. They may be undergoing medical treatment or through a gender transition but most commonly (about 84% of the time) people are choosing to freeze their eggs to preserve their fertility.
Once someone has decided to preserve their fertility, the biggest challenge may be picking a clinic to go through this emotional and physical process with. Below are some points to consider that may help someone make that decision.
If I freeze my eggs, will I need to go through IVF?
We know that egg quality declines over time but it is still possible to conceive naturally well into your 40s. If you intend to use the eggs you have frozen, yes you will need to complete the IVF process - a good way to think about egg freezing is that is it the first half of an IVF cycle. It could be helpful to consider the whole process when deciding where to freeze your eggs.
How does the process work?
The whole process will take 2-4 weeks. The first part of the process is a consultation and screening where you will have your blood work and an initial scan done. Next you will be given injectable medication to stimulate egg production. You will have scans every 2-3 days to monitor how the eggs are developing in your ovaries. Your eggs will then be collected under sedation and frozen on the same day. When you decide to use your eggs they will be thawed, fertilised, incubated for a few days and you will have an embryo transfer.
Do I have to have to have IVF at the Clinic I froze my eggs with?
The short answer is no. But, it will cost money (about £400) to move your eggs between clinics.
Are success rates important when thinking about egg freezing?
Success rates are important to clinics and they do use them to differentiate themselves but there are some important nuances. Some clinics like to report their success rates as “live births per egg collection”, but a more accurate gauge of success is “live births per embryo transfer” (check out our “Egg Freezing” support page for more info on this). Most clinics use much of the same technology so a good place to start comparing clinics is to attend a free open evening or use a third party website like Amilis or Seen Fertility. Some even offer free consults.
Do clinics have exclusion criteria?
Yes. Most clinics have cut offs for age, weight or for existing health conditions. Criteria differ between clinics and so it could be helpful to understand them all individually.
Should I get a hormone (AMH, LH, FSH) test first?
This is not necessary, the clinics will do all the blood work and hormone tests they need prior to any treatment. Buying an at home testing kit could mean you’re just paying for the same test twice. The standards of at home testing kits vary as well so clinics will most likely just repeat those tests.
I have a gynaecological health condition (like endometriosis) could this influence where I freeze my eggs?
Honestly, this isn’t easy to answer in a few sentences. If you have a diagnosis such as endometriosis you may need additional tests and imaging prior to any egg retrieval which are not considered ‘Standard’. For this reason it may be worth looking into clinics attached to hospitals as they will be able to facilitate any additional tests. Such clinics include Kings Fertility, Chelsea and Westminster or Lister Fertility to name a few.
Can I freeze my eggs on the NHS?
Unfortunately, non-emergency egg freezing is not available on the NHS. If you have endometriosis or are about to undergo cancer treatment you could be eligible to access an NHS egg freezing service - in most cases you will need to have surgery booked.
What is Egg Sharing?
Egg sharing is donating half your eggs on collection. Some clinics offer money off egg freezing cycles if you decide to do this. So it’s worth asking the clinics you are contacting.
How much will it cost and are there any hidden costs?
Many clinics provide package prices but what they include in the package varies between clinics. The package price will not be the final price you pay as medication, scans, bloods as well as any initial testing may not be included. For 1 round of egg freezing it will cost about £5000-6000.
Is consultant led care essential?
This is another way clinics can differentiate themselves, by offering consultant led care. But this can add to the cost, especially if a consultant is doing all the scans. Where ever you go, a consultant will make all the big decisions so having a sonographer complete the scans will not effect your care and could help reduce cost.
How many cycles will I need?
Most clinics will recommend 3 cycles and offer 3 cycle packages, but you may get enough eggs on your first cycle. If this does happen the clinic should offer you a refund for the other cycles.
How much time do I need to dedicate to this process?
Initial testing and a consult will take 2-3 hours but may take place on separate days. Scans will happen every 2-3 days once you start medication until you have your eggs collected and will take 10-15 minutes each. Egg collections will take about 4-5 hours from arrival to discharge. You will also need to make time to inject yourself daily.
Anything else to note?
Some clinics don’t keep their frozen eggs on site. This isn’t a clinical issue, but some may not like that so it may be worth asking.
The largest toll will be emotional, the daily injections may cause physical symptoms but also intense emotional fluctuations, including increased anxiety, irritability, tiredness and tearfulness.
By law all clinics have to offer counselling for anyone entering the service but you are not mandated to take the offer.
a.3/
What You Need To Know About Egg Freezing
For a more comprehensive view on Egg Freezing please visit the “Egg Freezing” section of our Support pages.