fertility treatments
The Best Time to Freeze Your Eggs as a Medical Student
When should you consider freezing your eggs during medical school? If egg freezing is on your mind, understanding the best timing can make the process much smoother. Medical school actually offers some unique advantages. You are better positioned to understand everything involved in the medical procedure.
The demands of medical school can make it seem like there's never a good time to focus on personal goals like proactive family planning. But if egg freezing is on your mind, understanding the best timing can make the process much smoother. Medical school actually offers some unique advantages. You are better positioned to understand everything involved in the medical procedure.
When it comes to egg freezing, your age is the most important factor influencing future success rates with frozen eggs, so acting while you're younger (under 35) gives you the best possible options. Additionally, certain phases of med school might have slightly more flexibility than the intensity of residency.
So, when should you consider freezing your eggs during medical school? Optimal windows include summer breaks (most time available), fall/spring breaks (if you're a meticulous planner), or potentially elective periods (depending on your choices). Let’s dive in to learn more.
A quick overview of egg freezing
The egg freezing process itself typically takes a few weeks. It begins with ovarian reserve and fertility testing along with a consultation with a fertility doctor where you map out the plan. Once you’re ready to go, you'll take hormonal medications for about 10-12 days to encourage the development of multiple mature eggs. During this time, you'll have regular monitoring appointments to track your progress. Once the eggs are ready, they'll be retrieved in a short, outpatient procedure under sedation. After retrieval, your eggs are frozen and stored for future use.
A guide to the ideal timing during medical school
Here's the essential timeline to keep in mind:
2-3 months before your egg freezing cycle:
- Initial consult: Discuss your goals, the process, and costs with a fertility doctor.
- Baseline testing: Bloodwork and ultrasound to assess ovarian reserve.
- Stop birth control: Depending on the type of birth control you are taking, you may need to stop taking it ahead of the egg freezing cycle.
The egg freezing cycle:
- Medications and monitoring: Begin ovarian stimulation with daily hormone injections for 10-12 days. This phase requires several monitoring appointments (ultrasounds and blood tests) at your fertility clinic or a local remote monitoring clinic. If you work with Cofertility in our Split program, we can work with you and your program to find the most convenient place for these appointments, including at your hospital.
- Egg retrieval: Short, outpatient procedure under sedation where eggs are retrieved and frozen.
- Recovery: Expect a few days of cramping and/or bloating. Most people can return to light activities soon after.
Expect about 3 to 6 monitoring appointments (which last no more than an hour) and one day for the retrieval. Ideally, you'll want to align the cycle with a break in your medical school schedule– such as spring break, summer break, or otherwise– to ensure you have the flexibility you need for appointments.
The key is being proactive! Don't wait to start the conversation with a fertility clinic. The earlier you plan, the less stressful it will be. Since medical schools publish their calendar in advance, use one of the week-long breaks as a target for the egg retrieval. You can then work backwards from that date to start the cycle.
Be your own advocate with your school's administration about needing some flexibility for medical appointments. If you work with Cofertility, we can help you map out the egg freezing schedule and find a cycle start date that works with your schedule.
If you join our Split program, you will be assigned a Member Advocate who will take the extra steps to understand your busy schedule and help schedule appointments in the most convenient way possible. In some cases this means reaching out to the hospital(s) connected to your medical school program for availability to perform labs and ultrasounds.
Freeze your eggs with Cofertility
Cofertility is a human-first, tech-enabled fertility ecosystem that provides people agency over if, how, and when they have babies — today or someday. We have two programs for egg freezers:
- Our Split program offers women a chance to freeze their eggs for free when donating half of the eggs retrieved to a family who cannot otherwise conceive. If you qualify for the program and decide to donate half of your retrieved eggs, every expense associated with the egg freezing procedure — medications, supplements, travel if necessary, insurance, and 10 years of storage — are completely free of charge. We don’t even need a payment or credit card up front, as the family you match with covers all the expenses.
- Our self-pay Keep program allows women to freeze their eggs and keep them all for their future use. Through Keep, we offer our members partnerships and discounts to lighten the financial load of egg freezing, as well as access to our member community.
The benefits of working with Cofertility include:
- Power of choice: Freeze your eggs more affordably or, if you qualify, freeze for free when you give half to a family who can’t otherwise conceive.
- Community: Our inclusive online spaces allow you to connect with others going through the process in our private online community.
- Compassion: We’ll always treat you with care, and our Split program gives you the opportunity to make someone’s family building dreams a reality.
- Data-driven: We provide you with trustworthy guidance and evidence-based research so you can make informed decisions about your fertility.
- Free egg freezing: Freeze and store your eggs for 10 years, entirely for free if you qualify for our Split program.
Ready to learn about more affordable (even free!) egg freezing with Cofertility? Fill out this quick quiz to learn about our accessible egg freezing options and see if you qualify for our programs — it only takes one minute.
Is Egg Freezing Safe? An OBGYN Answers Your Top Questions
Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, has grown in popularity, with a 30% increase in egg-freezing cycles from 2021 to 2022 alone! While egg freezing is generally considered safe and effective, we still get a lot of questions. Let's address some of the most common concerns I hear as an OBGYN.
Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, has grown in popularity, with a 30% increase in egg-freezing cycles from 2021 to 2022 alone! While egg freezing is generally considered safe and effective, I still get a lot of great questions about it as an OBGYN.
Let's address some of the most common concerns I hear:
Does egg freezing affect future fertility?
Egg freezing does not guarantee future fertility, but it does offer a way to preserve your eggs at their current age and quality. This can be particularly beneficial for those who:
- Want to delay childbearing due to personal or career reasons.
- Are facing medical treatments that may affect fertility.
- Have a family history of early menopause.
But will egg freezing itself negatively impact your future fertility? The short answer is no, egg freezing won’t lower your egg reserve and it won’t affect your chances of getting pregnant naturally when you’re ready to do so.
Read more in Does Donating or Freezing Your Eggs Affect Your Future Fertility?
Does egg freezing increase the risk of cancer?
Current research suggests that egg freezing does not significantly increase the risk of most cancers. Overall, studies have shown that fertility treatments do not increase the risks of invasive ovarian cancer, malignant melanoma, or cancers of the endometrium, cervix, breast, thyroid, or colon.
There is limited evidence suggesting a potential, but small, increase in the risk of borderline ovarian cancer (a type of ovarian cancer with low malignant potential) associated with fertility treatments. However, this risk is minimal in absolute terms.
While the hormones used during the ovarian stimulation phase of egg freezing are similar to those used in IVF, the duration of exposure is typically shorter, further reducing any potential concerns. All that being said, more research is needed. It's important to discuss your individual risk factors and concerns with your doctor.
Are there medical risks associated with egg freezing?
Like any medical procedure, egg freezing carries some risks, primarily related to the ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval processes.
In a single egg freezing cycle, the risk of a serious adverse event is under 2.5%. Severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) accounts for the majority of complications, occurring in 0.1-2% of cycles. The risk of other acute complications, including pelvic infection, intraperitoneal hemorrhage, or ovarian torsion, is small (<0.5%). The risks overall are generally low and can be minimized through careful monitoring and appropriate medical management.
Are there long-term side effects from egg freezing?
Some people do experience minor side effects from the medications and egg retrieval, but they are generally for a short period of time. These side effects can include:
- Mild bruising and soreness at the injection site
- Nausea and, occasionally, vomiting
- Temporary allergic reactions, such as skin reddening and/or itching at the injection site
- Breast tenderness and increased vaginal discharge
- Mood swings and fatigue
- Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
Read more in What are the Side Effects and Risks of Egg Freezing?
Are children born from frozen eggs healthy?
Yes, experts believe that babies conceived through IVF, including those born from frozen eggs, are generally just as healthy as babies conceived naturally. However, most studies have focused on IVF outcomes as a whole, rather than specifically isolating the effects of egg freezing.
One recent study, however, specifically examined the health and development of babies born after egg freezing. The findings were reassuring: there was no increased risk of low birth weight, preterm birth, or babies being too small (or too large) for their gestational age.
Additionally, the study found that children born from frozen eggs met developmental milestones at roughly the same rate as other children, with a 90% achievement rate overall. This percentage even increased as the children grew older, with 100% of six-year-olds meeting all developmental milestones.
While more research is always helpful, this study provides encouraging evidence that egg freezing is safe not just for the mother, but for the future children as well.
Summing it up
Egg freezing is a rapidly evolving technology that offers people greater control over their reproductive choices. While it's not a guaranteed path to parenthood, it provides a valuable opportunity to preserve fertility for the future. With its growing popularity and increasing success rates, egg freezing is becoming a more mainstream option for people who want to prioritize their careers, relationships, or simply maintain their options.
While concerns about safety are natural, current research indicates that egg freezing is generally safe and does not significantly increase the risk of cancer or negatively impact the health of future children. As with any medical procedure, there are potential risks and side effects, but these can be minimized through careful monitoring and management by a qualified fertility specialist.
If you're considering egg freezing, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We can help answer your specific questions, address any concerns, and help you make an informed decision about whether egg freezing is right for you. Remember, knowledge is power – by understanding the facts and weighing your options, you can take proactive steps to protect your fertility and shape your future on your terms.
Freeze your eggs– for free– with Cofertility
We’d love the opportunity to support you on your egg freezing journey!
- Through our Split program, qualified freezers can freeze their eggs for free when donating half of the eggs retrieved to a family who can’t otherwise conceive.
- Through our Keep program — where you keep 100% of eggs retrieved for your own future use — we offer exclusive discounts on expenses, such as frozen egg storage. Keep members also still gain free access to our Freeze by Co Community, a safe space for those engaging in the egg freezing process (or gearing up for it) to connect and lean on each other.
By making egg freezing easier and more accessible, our programs further strengthen the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)’s Committee Opinion that egg freezing can help promote social justice and strengthen gender equality.
How Informed Consent Works at Cofertility
This article provides a comprehensive overview of how informed consent works at Cofertility, where women can freeze their eggs for free when donating half to a family that could not otherwise conceive. We'll explore the various aspects of informed consent, including its definition, its specific application to egg donation, and the medical, psychological, genetic, and legal considerations involved. By the end of this article, you'll have a clearer understanding of our commitment to ethical practices and donor well-being throughout the egg donation journey.
Egg donation plays a crucial role in helping many individuals and couples achieve their dreams of parenthood. At Cofertility, we recognize the significance of this decision for our donors and are committed to ensuring that every aspect of the donation process is conducted with the utmost care, transparency, and respect for our donors' autonomy.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of how informed consent works at Cofertility, where women can freeze their eggs for free when donating half to a family that could not otherwise conceive.
We'll explore the various aspects of informed consent, including its definition, its specific application to egg donation, and the medical, psychological, genetic, and legal considerations involved. By the end of this article, you'll have a clearer understanding of our commitment to ethical practices and donor well-being throughout the egg donation journey.
What is informed consent?
Informed consent is a fundamental ethical and legal principle in healthcare and medical research. It refers to the process by which a fully informed patient or participant can participate in choices about their healthcare or involvement in research. For consent to be considered "informed," several key elements must be present:
- Disclosure: The healthcare provider or researcher must provide all relevant information about the proposed treatment, procedure, or study. This includes potential risks, benefits, alternatives, and the option to refuse or withdraw.
- Understanding: The patient or participant must comprehend the information provided. This may involve explaining complex medical terms in plain language or using visual aids to ensure clarity.
- Voluntariness: The decision to consent must be made freely, without coercion, undue influence, or pressure from healthcare providers, researchers, family members, or others.
- Competence: The individual must have the mental capacity to make the decision. This means they must be of legal age and sound mind to understand the implications of their choice.
- Consent: The patient or participant must explicitly agree to the treatment, procedure, or participation in the study, usually by signing a consent form.
Informed consent in egg donation
At Cofertility, we take donor consent very seriously. In the context of egg donation, informed consent ensures that donors fully understand all aspects of the donation process, including medical procedures, potential risks, psychological implications, and legal considerations. It empowers donors to make autonomous decisions about their bodies and genetic material, protecting their rights and well-being throughout the donation process.
To ensure that an egg donor is making a knowledgeable and autonomous decision about becoming an egg donor through our Split program, the potential donor is required to be fully educated about all aspects of the donation process. This includes:
- Medical implications: Understanding the procedures involved and potential health risks.
- Psychological considerations: Exploring the emotional aspects of egg donation.
- Genetic implications: Comprehending the long-term genetic connections created through donation.
- Legal aspects: Understanding the rights and responsibilities of egg donors.
- Egg sharing vs. financial implications: Grasping the differences between our Split program and traditional financial compensation models.
It is crucial that the donor demonstrates she understands all the information provided and has ample opportunity to ask questions before deciding to move forward. Another important aspect of informed consent is that it must be given voluntarily, without coercion or undue influence. The egg donor must understand that she has the right to withdraw from the process at any time before the egg retrieval.
This process of informed consent is just one aspect of how we work to educate each member through various aspects of the process— on top of providing support and guidance— all in the name of supporting our donors in making the best decision for themselves.
Medical risks and side effects
Just like any other medical procedure, egg donation has medical risks and side effects. Understanding the medical side effects of egg donation is vital for ensuring that donors can give informed consent, prepare for and manage potential risks, and safeguard their physical well-being. It also empowers donors to make confident, informed decisions about their participation in the donation process.
Typically, during the menstrual cycle only one egg is released. So when donating eggs, medications are given to help produce multiple eggs at one time. Sometimes ovaries over respond to these medications and cause side effects. Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) is one possible side effect. The ovaries swell because they are producing more than what is typical and can become painful. Symptoms can range from mild bloating and nausea to severe symptoms such as shortness of breath, blood clots, and even kidney failure. According to the Cleveland Clinic, OHSS occurs in less than 5% of women undergoing retrieval. And severe cases are less than 1%.
Because a needle is involved to remove eggs from the ovaries, an infection is possible. However, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), pelvic infections after egg retrieval are pretty rare. Severe infections may require hospitalization and/or treatment with intravenous antibiotics. Rarely, surgery may be required to remove one or both of the ovaries, tubes, and/or uterus. Light vaginal bleeding or spotting for 1–2 days after an egg retrieval procedure is also very normal. Since the retrieval involves puncturing and aspirating ovarian follicles, it can lead to varying degrees of bleeding.
These and other potential side effects will be fully discussed and covered in detail before any procedure begins. The donor will have ample opportunity to learn about all the possible side effects and opportunity to ask questions until she feels fully informed and comfortable with moving forward. We believe that being aware of the medical side effects empowers donors to take an active role in their healthcare. This knowledge allows them to advocate for themselves, ask the right questions, and make decisions that are in their best interest.
Psychological and emotional considerations
The decision to donate eggs involves a lot of personal considerations as well, not just medical. And donors must be counseled on the potential emotional and psychological impacts of donation, including the potential for regret. Donors may experience stress related to the medical procedures, the hormones used, and the overall commitment required. But the emotional and psychological impacts can impact a donor well past the donation phase and into the future. The knowledge that their genetic material may result in the birth of a child can create a sense of connection or identity-related concerns. Donors may wonder about their genetic offspring and may feel a sense of loss or confusion regarding their role in the child's life. Donors may find that their decision affects their relationships with partners, family members, or friends, particularly if those around them have differing views on egg donation.
This and other psychologically complex reasons are why donors undergo an extensive psychological screening to assess their emotional readiness and understanding of the potential psychological impacts of egg donation. Understanding the potential mental health implications ensures that they are prepared for the emotional journey ahead. By being aware of these potential effects, donors can make more informed decisions, seek appropriate support, and manage their mental health throughout and after the donation process. We provide access to professional mental health support that can help donors process their emotions and manage any psychological challenges that arise.
Over time, a donor's feelings about their decision might evolve. What seemed like a straightforward decision at one point in life might be reconsidered as the donor’s circumstances or perspective changes, potentially leading to feelings of regret or doubt. So before proceeding with the donation, we discuss this with our donors to reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings or regrets later in life. This is where we spend time discussing the genetic implications of egg donation.
Genetic implications of egg donation
The egg provided by the donor contains half of the genetic material that will combine with sperm to form an embryo. This means that the donors and recipients' family tree will be tied forever. We want our donors to understand the significance of this implication. Being informed about potential future impacts allows donors to develop coping strategies and seek support networks, whether through professional counseling, support groups, or trusted individuals in their lives.
At Cofertility, we offer potential egg donors the choice of how, if at all, they want to be connected to the family they help. Two broad options for the the relationship include:
- Disclosed, you exchange contact information and can communicate directly. The scope and degree of communication (both during and post-match) is what both parties make of it.
- Undisclosed, you do not exchange contact information and only communicate through Cofertility. With an undisclosed donation, you and the family can choose to allow the donor-conceived child to receive your contact information when they turn a certain age (usually 18). This is called Open ID, an increasingly popular option.
Some egg donation agencies promise the opportunity to be anonymous. However, with the rise of direct-to-consumer genetic testing services, we know that anonymity is simply not possible. It has become easier for children conceived through egg donation to discover their genetic origins and potentially locate the egg donor and other biological relatives. It’s important for donors to carefully consider this implication and discuss them with medical, psychological, and legal professionals before proceeding with the donation.
Legal rights and responsibilities
Before the donation process begins, the donor must sign legal contracts that outline their rights, responsibilities, and the terms of the donation. The legal rights and responsibilities of an egg donor are carefully defined in a legal contract to protect both the donor and the recipients. These rights and responsibilities involve issues of parental rights, disclosure, and confidentiality and are legally binding.
In the contract it will be explicitly directed that the egg donor relinquish all parental rights to any children born as a result of their donation. This means they have no legal responsibilities or rights regarding the child. So the donor has no legal claim to the child, no right to contact or visitation, and no responsibility for the child's upbringing. Although research and guidelines encourage transparency, suggesting that children should be informed about their genetic origins, it is up to the recipient parents to decide if and when they will disclose the egg donation to their child.
At Cofertility donors are required to have independent legal counsel to review these contracts and ensure they fully understand their rights and obligations. There is no cost to the donor.
Egg sharing vs. financial compensation
Egg sharing is a program in which a woman shares some of her eggs with another individual or couple who need donor eggs. In the case of Cofertility, the donor gives half of her retrieved eggs to a family who cannot conceive otherwise and keeps the rest for herself. Every expense associated - medications, supplement, travel, insurance, freezing, legal etc - are completely free of charge.
Egg sharing and financial compensation are two very different models used in the context of egg donation. Both involve women donating their eggs, but the motivations, benefits, and processes differ.
Egg sharing is a program in which a woman shares some of her eggs with another individual or couple who need donor eggs. In the case of Cofertility, the donor gives half of her retrieved eggs to a family who cannot conceive otherwise and keeps the rest for herself. Every expense associated— medications, supplement, travel, insurance, freezing, legal, and 10 years of storage— are completely free of charge. What’s beautiful about egg sharing is that both the donor / egg sharer and the recipient benefit from the process. The donor gains access to free egg freezing, while the recipient receives donor eggs that increase their chances of conception.
In a financial based model of egg donation, a woman donates her eggs in exchange for a direct financial payment. This compensation is for her time, effort, and the physical and emotional demands of the donation process. Donors receive a pre-agreed sum of money as compensation for the donation. This payment is not for the eggs themselves but for the donor’s participation in the process, covering time, discomfort, and any associated risks.
With cash compensation, ethical issues can arise regarding the commodification of human eggs, the motivations of donors (financial need versus altruism), and the potential for exploitation, especially in economically disadvantaged populations. Plus, a 2021 Harvard study found that 62% of donor-conceived adults felt the exchange of money for donor gametes was wrong, and 41% were troubled by the fact that money was exchanged around their conception.
The bottom line
Egg donation is a complex process, and it is important for potential donors to receive comprehensive information before giving their consent. This includes information regarding medical, psychological, genetic, legal, and egg sharing vs financial implications, before voluntarily agreeing to participate. They have the right to ask questions and receive clear, unbiased answers to ensure that they are making fully informed decisions at every stage of the donation process. This right is crucial for safeguarding their health, legal rights, emotional well-being, and autonomy. It also upholds ethical standards by ensuring transparency, trust, and the protection of donors from exploitation or coercion.
AMH, PCOS, OHSS, WTF?! A Comprehensive List of All the Egg Freezing Terms You Need to Know
A comprehensive list of acronyms, abbreviations, and terms you should know when diving into an egg freezing cycle. Read this, and soon you’ll rattle off egg freezing lingo like a pro
If you just started researching egg freezing, you might feel like you’ve been introduced to a whole new language. Whether clinical in nature or just shortened slang, with egg freezing comes its own terminology. And even if you’ve already educated yourself on what’s involved with egg freezing, chances are, you’ll come across an acronym you’ve never heard of.
Fear not. Below, you’ll find a comprehensive list of acronyms, abbreviations, and terms you should know when diving into an egg freezing cycle. Read this, and soon you’ll rattle off egg freezing lingo like a pro.
Hormones and general fertility
- AMH: One of the first hormones your reproductive endocrinologist will investigate, Anti-Müllerian Hormone is measured early in a woman’s cycle to determine her ovarian reserve. A higher AMH level correlates to a higher ovarian reserve, or in other words, more eggs.
- CD: "Cycle day"—or the day of one's menstrual cycle, with CD1 = the first day of a period. Understanding your cycle length is super important, as it may indicate your most fertile window of dates. It will also help you determine any irregularities to consider as you embark on an egg freezing cycle.
- DPO: "Days past ovulation." In a typical menstrual cycle, women can expect their period at 14DPO.
- Dx: Diagnosis, the medical identification of a condition or issue affecting fertility, which may impact decisions regarding egg freezing and related treatments.
- E2: Estradiol, a female hormone that's produced by ovarian follicles and determines how well a woman is responding to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with fertility drugs. If you're freezing your eggs, you’ll have several routine monitoring appointments that include ultrasounds and bloodwork that measures estradiol levels. The higher the estradiol, the more follicles that are likely developing and (fingers crossed) the more eggs that may be retrieved.
- FSH: Follicle stimulating hormone, a hormone released from the pituitary gland to stimulate the ovaries or testicles. When getting an initial fertility workup, you'll get tested for your existing FSH. If you're taking FSH as a drug as part of your egg freezing protocol, it's also known in the United States as Follistim, Gonal-F or Bravelle.
- hCG: Human Chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone produced by an implanting embryo. If this hormone is present in a woman's blood, it indicates a possible pregnancy. It can also be given to women undergoing an egg freezing cycle to trigger ovulation right before a retrieval procedure.
- LH: Luteinising Hormone, a hormone released by the pituitary gland to stimulate the gonads (ovaries and testicles). If you're freezing your eggs, you'll have levels of this hormone measured often via bloodwork in order to determine ovulation timing.
- LMP: "Last menstrual period," or the start date of a woman's last menstrual period.
- MII: Metaphase II, the stage of egg maturation where the egg is ready for (hypothetical) fertilization, with chromosome alignment necessary for successful embryo development.
- PCOS: "Polycystic ovarian syndrome," a condition where the ovaries develop many small cysts, which results in irregular periods and ovulation. It can contribute to future infertility, so if you know you have PCOS, regardless of whether you’re freezing your eggs or not, chat with a reproductive endocrinologist to ensure a safe and healthy plan.
- TSH: Thyroid stimulating hormone, a hormone produced by the pituitary gland meant to stimulate the release of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland. Recent research has suggested that slightly low TSH may associate with fertility challenges.
Egg freezing
- AFC: “Antral follicle count,” a count of the number of small follicles in a woman's ovaries, seen via ultrasound early on in her cycle. Used to measure ovarian reserve, you'll have a lot of these if you're freezing your eggs to monitor how you're responding to ovary-stimulating medication.
- ART: “Assisted reproductive technology,” including any procedure involving egg retrievals and manipulating eggs and sperm outside the body. It includes things like egg freezing, gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), in vitro fertilization (IVF), and zygote intrafallopian transfer/tubal embryo transfer (ZIFT/TET).
- BCP: Birth control pills. If you’re freezing your eggs, your doctor may prescribe these as part of a medicated cycle in order to regulate the timing
- COH: “Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation,” when several follicles mature simultaneously in response to fertility drug treatment. The key word here is controlled. Your follicle growth will be carefully monitored by your doctor, who will adjust your medication protocol accordingly to stimulate or halt further growth.
- ER: "Egg retrieval" — not "emergency room!" An ER will be performed as part of an egg freezing cycle, and may also be referred to as a VOR (“Vaginal Oocyte Retrieval”).
- IM: Intramuscular, a method of injecting medication directly into a muscle. This method is often used for hormone treatments during the egg freezing process.
- OC: “Oocyte Cryopreservation,” which is another term for egg freezing.
- OHSS: “Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome,” a condition where the ovaries become excessively swollen and painful due to the overproduction of eggs from fertility medications. This is very rare, but can happen.
- REI: "Reproductive endocrinologist," or a doctor who specializes in treating male and female fertility.
- SD1: “Stimulation Day 1,” or the first day of medication administered to stimulate the ovaries for egg production during the egg freezing process.
- SQ: Subcutaneous (also abbreviated as SC), a method of injecting medication into the fatty tissue just under the skin, commonly used for administering fertility hormones during an egg freezing cycle.
- TVUS: “Transvaginal Ultrasound,” an imaging technique used to visualize the ovaries and follicles internally, providing information about egg development and ovarian health. If you’re undergoing an egg freezing cycle, you’ll have a lot of these, but they are quick and painless.
Egg donation
- DE: “Donor eggs,” or eggs provided by another woman to be fertilized with sperm and transferred to the uterus of an intended parent or gestational carrier.
- IP: “Intended parent,” which is a person who becomes the legal parent of a child born through third party reproduction.
If you’re feeling totally overwhelmed by all that’s involved with egg freezing, we’ve got you covered. Take our quiz to see how you may qualify for our more accessible egg freezing opportunities, including our Split program, through which you can freeze your eggs for free when you donate half to another family who can’t conceive.
We’re wishing you the best of luck on your egg freezing journey!
What is Embryo Banking?
If you're exploring options for future family planning, you may be wondering about embryo banking. Is it the right choice for you? Let's dive in and learn more.
In today's world, the path to parenthood is anything but one-size-fits-all. People are getting married later, and about 20% of women in the U.S. now have their first child after age 35. Whether you're focused on your career, haven't found the right partner, or are facing health challenges, your timeline for starting a family probably looks different from your parents.
If you're exploring options for future family planning, you may be wondering about embryo banking. Is it the right choice for you? Let's dive in and learn more.
How does embryo banking work?
In essence, embryo banking is the process of creating embryos through in vitro fertilization (IVF), then freezing and storing them for future use. It's like having a biological time capsule, waiting to be opened when you're ready for parenthood.
The journey begins with the same steps as IVF. First, you undergo ovarian stimulation to encourage the production of multiple mature eggs. Once ready, these eggs are retrieved through a 30-minute minimally invasive procedure. Then, in the lab, these eggs are fertilized with sperm (from a partner or donor), creating embryos. The embryos are carefully selected and frozen using a technique called vitrification, which allows them to be stored safely for many years to come.
Who is a candidate for embryo banking?
Embryo banking is for women who are absolutely sure they know who they want to be the biological father of their future children. It's a proactive choice for individuals and couples in a variety of situations:
- People undergoing IVF: If you’re undergoing IVF and want multiple children, some doctors will recommend embryo banking before doing an embryo transfer.
- People delaying parenthood: Maybe you're not quite ready for kids, but you want to ensure you have the option later. Embryo banking can help you safeguard your chances of having a biological child.
- Individuals facing medical treatments: Cancer treatments, surgeries, or other medical conditions can impact fertility. Embryo banking offers a way to preserve your options before undergoing such treatments.
- Same-sex couples: Embryo banking, combined with egg or sperm donation, can help same-sex couples achieve their dream of having a genetically related child.
- Single individuals: If you're single but know you want to use a sperm donor, embryo banking can give you a head start on that goal.
How many embryos should you bank?
During the IVF process, not all fertilized eggs will develop into viable embryos suitable for transfer. This natural attrition rate can mean that you will likely start with a larger number of fertilized eggs but end up with fewer healthy embryos.
It’s generally recommended to aim for approximately two genetically tested embryos frozen per the number of children you'd like to have. So, if you're hoping for two children, aiming to bank around four genetically tested embryos would be a reasonable goal.
Of course, you’ll want to talk through this with your fertility doctor. They can take into account factors like your age, overall health, and any specific fertility concerns to provide personalized guidance on the ideal number of embryos to bank for your situation.
Is embryo banking right for you?
You’ll want to weigh the potential benefits of embryo banking against the considerations, and figure out if this is an investment you want to make. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- What are my future family plans?
- Am I okay creating embryos I may never use?
- Can I afford the associated costs?
- Am I emotionally prepared for the process and potential outcomes?
Of course, egg freezing is an alternative option. You can learn more about that here.
The bottom line
Embryo banking is one way to take control of your fertility journey. It's not just about preserving embryos, it's about increasing the chances and the possibility of building a family when the time is right for you. The path to parenthood is unique for everyone, and embryo banking might be the key to unlocking yours.
If you are interested in freezing your eggs or banking embryos, we can connect you with a fertility specialist for a consultation to discuss your specific situation. Our Freeze by Co platform is making egg freezing more empowering, positive, and accessible — even free — when you give half of the eggs retrieved to a family who can’t otherwise conceive.