Egg freezing, or mature oocyte cryopreservation in medical jargon, involves taking medications to stimulate your ovaries, harvesting multiple “ripe” eggs, and then quickly freezing them at subzero temperatures until you are ready to start or grow your family. As simple as that may sound, egg freezing raises complicated questions for many people interested in preserving their fertility. Read on to learn the answers to the most frequently asked questions about egg freezing.
When should I freeze my eggs?
According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), elective egg freezing is most successful for women younger than 38 years. Elective egg freezing is when you voluntarily choose to freeze your eggs as a type of insurance plan against natural aging. — not because you have a medical condition such as cancer that might harm the eggs in your ovaries (called oocytes).
With age, the likelihood of problems with the chromosomes inside your eggs increases. Chromosomes are the building blocks of your DNA or genetic information. Egg freezing allows you to use “younger” eggs when you want to get pregnant. With age, there are:
- Higher rates of infertility
- Fewer eggs can be harvested
- Lower IVF success rates
- Increased rates of miscarriage
- Higher rates of congenital disabilities
- Higher-risk pregnancies for people who are pregnant when they are older than 35 increase
People who freeze their eggs before age 34 have the highest overall live birth rates. So, while egg freezing does help you slow down your biological clock, you can not push pause forever. Data from fertility centers indicate that most women 38 and younger can expect to harvest 10-20 eggs per cycle. The more eggs your doctor can collect, the higher your chances of a successful live birth. So, the ideal window for egg freezing is somewhere between 34-38 years old.
Your benefits
Walmart partners with Kindbody, a benefit that gives you access to fertility and family-building services like egg freezing, IVF, LGBTQ+ support, gynecology, holistic health, and more.
You can email walmart@kindbody.com or call the Care Navigation team at 855 454 7663 if you have any questions about the program.
Tap the button below to activate your Kindbody benefit.
