Egg Freezing

Process
Understanding Egg freezing or “oocyte cryopreservation” is a way of
slowing down the clock and preserving women’s fertility
the Egg so they can have a family in the future. One of the most
Freezing common issues that a fertility clinic sees are age related
fertility problems, mainly a decrease in egg quality and
Process quantity.
First, you’ll need to consult a fertility specialist and find out if
you are a good candidate for the procedure. You will be
checked by the doctor to make sure that you are in overall good
health. They will also check the status of your ovarian reserve How do I
freeze my
(quality and quantity of your eggs).

Once you have been cleared, your fertility team will walk you
eggs?
through the fertility medications you’ll be taking. This walk-
through will also include when and
how to administer these medications.
The Egg Freezing Process
Pre-Cycle Preparation
This includes blood tests, a pelvic exam, transvaginal
ultrasound and in some cases hysteroscopy. A physician will
then analyze your test results and plan your treatment
protocol accordingly.
 Ovarian Stimulation
Your egg freezing protocol will begin with a series of fertility
medications which will stimulate your ovaries. Ovarian stimulation has
two purposes: First, to plan your ovulation so that the egg retrieval
process can be performed at the right time. Second, to generate as many

The Egg eggs as possible. You typically only produce one mature egg in a
natural ovulation cycle. When you are freezing your eggs, it is better to
maximize the number of eggs available.

Freezing Patients will start taking fertility medications on the third day of their
Process period and continue them for 10 to 12 days. During this time, you’ll
need to visit our clinic several times for blood tests and ultrasound
monitoring so that the team can keep an eye on how your follicles are
developing. Once there is a good number of mature follicles to produce
eggs, you’ll receive a ‘trigger shot’ of HCG (human chorionic
gonadotropin). HCG will encourage eggs to finish maturing and your
egg retrieval procedure will be scheduled approximately 36 hours later.
 Egg Retrieval
The egg retrieval process is done as an outpatient procedure under IV sedation, at
the fertility clinic. The sedation you receive will be a mild aesthetic, so that you
won’t feel any pain during the egg retrieval. It takes around 20 -30 minutes to
The Egg complete the retrieval procedure. A transvaginal ultrasound probe will be used
during this procedure giving the physician a clear view of your ovary. This allows

Freezing them to precisely locate each follicle, allowing them to retrieve maximum number
of eggs.

Process You can expect to be at the clinic for 1.5 to 2.5 hours. You will complete paperwork
and undergo preparation and recovery after the procedure. It is advised to take the
rest of the day off to allow your body to recover. Recovery is generally fast and
easy, you might feel slight abdominal bloating and tenderness but that will pass
quickly.
The Egg Freezing
Process
Freezing
Your part in the process is over as soon as
the retrieval is done. Retrieved eggs are
immediately taken to the lab where they are
cooled instantly to sub-zero temperature.
These frozen eggs are then placed in a
special storage facility until you decide to
use them.
Whether you’re waiting for your career to take-off,
waiting for the right relationship to develop or
undergoing a treatment that might adversely affect
your fertility, freezing your eggs provides you with
the potential to preserve your fertility until you’re
ready.
To learn more about your fertility options or the
egg freezing process, contact one of our
consultants today at
www.fertile.com
or
call us at (858) 436-7186