Women’s Health: What is Egg Freezing? Know the Process, Advantages, and Potential Risks

Women’s Health: Egg freezing, a significant development in reproductive health, has become a popular choice among young women. It involves keeping a woman’s eggs at high quality and number, usually before the age of 35, as both parameters normally drop with age. Egg freezing is especially advised for women who are not ready to conceive owing to personal reasons, a lack of a suitable partner, or medical concerns such as cancer, genetic diseases, or severe endometriosis. In this video, we will explain what egg freezing is, how it works, and who should do it. 

Egg Freezing Process

The process begins with a visit to a fertility consultant, where comprehensive assessments, including blood tests and ultrasounds, are conducted. Hormonal injections are given for 10-12 days, followed by a painless egg retrieval under anesthesia. The extracted eggs are then frozen for later use, giving women the option to conceive when they are ready. While egg freezing is a promising possibility, certain obstacles demoralize people. These include the financial expense, which usually runs between 1.5 and 2 lakhs, accessibility challenges in smaller cities, and the societal shame associated with reproductive procedures. Misconceptions regarding egg freezing being synonymous with IVF contribute to the hesitancy to adopt the procedure.