There are several processes and procedures involved with the IVF journey. In this series of blogs, we will be taking a closer look at what comes along with the beginning stages of starting a family.
Today, we will be diving into oocyte cryopreservation — also commonly referred to as the egg freezing process. The oocyte cryopreservation process is a process in which a woman’s eggs are extracted, freezed & stored in an effort to preserve a woman’s reproductive chances later down the road.
Who is a good candidate for Egg Freezing?
- Women who are looking to delay starting a family (this happens for so many reasons: personal, social, or educational reasons)
- Women who have been diagnosed with cancer or have ovarian disease that can affect fertility & ovarian health (super common for survivors to freeze their eggs, our PATIENT X article featured a breast cancer survivor)
The Process
- Assessments will need to take place prior to egg retrieval in order to determine the potential amount of healthy oocytes (eggs). These assessments will typically be in the form of blood tests & a pelvic ultrasound.
- After the assessments, ovarian stimulation happens using hormonal injectables — similar to that of IVF.. This process takes apx. 3 weeks, including 1-2 weeks of birth control to turn off your natural hormones and then 9-10 days of hormone injections to stimulate the ovaries and prep the eggs for retrieval.
- Once the eggs have been adequately ripened, they are then extracted with a needle placed through the vagina using the guidance of an ultrasound. The eggs are then immediately frozen.
- When the patient is ready to begin the process of starting a family, the eggs are then thawed out and injected into a single sperm for fertilization, then transferred to the uterus as an embryo.
Success Rate
Success with the egg freezing process truly varies, and has a lot of dependence on a woman’s age at the time of cryopreservation, and the number of healthy, available eggs. Since this process is still relatively new, it is difficult to determine just how successful this is until more data has been collected. However, according to USC Fertility, they have seen a nearly 65% success rate after performing this process on over 150 women.
Cost
A big question surrounding family planning is, “how much will this cost?.” Truth be told — the cost of this procedure will vary depending on where you go and what your insurance will cover. Generally, costs are similar to those of the IVF process. Generally, the egg freezing process will cost around $10,000 with an annual storage fee. The egg thawing, fertilization, and transfer procedure typically costs around $5,000.
Please note that these prices are a general approximation. Costs will vary.
The cryopreservation process is a great alternative option for those wanting to start a family — at the right time. Cryo Courier has the privilege of being able to transport your precious eggs to their intended destination.
If you or someone you know is looking for a medical courier service to transport valuable specimens, consider Cryo Courier! Call us or request a quote today
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