Knowledge is power
We want you to feel confident making choices about your own fertility. Whether you’re considering egg freezing for the first time or have donated eggs before, we believe there’s always something new to learn.
Can Lifestyle Changes Affect Ovulation?
We know that both dietary and lifestyle factors affect the hormones that help to regulate our menstrual cycle. A regular menstrual cycle is essential for regular and predictable ovulation. If you’re trying to conceive, it is hard to get pregnant if you can’t predict your cycles and impossible to get pregnant if you aren’t ovulating!
The short answer is, yes! We know that both dietary and lifestyle factors affect the hormones that help to regulate our menstrual cycle. A regular menstrual cycle is essential for regular and predictable ovulation. If you’re trying to conceive, it is hard to get pregnant if you can’t predict your cycles, and impossible to get pregnant if you aren’t ovulating!
There are many lifestyle changes that can affect our cycles, but let’s rewind a little before we explore those in more detail.
Let’s talk about typical menstrual cycles first. Your menstrual cycle is measured from the day your period begins to the day before your next period. This length usually falls somewhere between 21-35 days, but that can change a little cycle-to-cycle.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG), you have an irregular cycle if you have:
- A cycle that is shorter than 21 days in length
- A cycle that is longer than 35 days in length
- Eight or less menstrual cycles in a calendar year
Other definitions also include more than a 10-20 day difference between your longest and shortest cycles.
So, if you have an irregular cycle and wonder what may have caused this? Well, there are many factors that can contribute to the irregularity (or regularity!) of our menstrual cycles.
These include:
- Diet
- Eating too much or too little for your body (particularly when it impacts your fat mass, or weight changes suddenly by a considerable amount)
- Being deficient in certain nutrients
- Blood sugar imbalance
- Chronic low-grade inflammation
- Over-exercising
- Consuming too much alcohol, smoking, or taking recreational drugs
- High levels of stress over the long term
- Medical conditions
- Diabetes (particularly when your blood sugars are above target)
- Eating disorders
- Endometriosis
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Fibroids
- Some thyroid conditions
- Premature ovarian insufficiency
- Medications
- The oral contraceptive pill (which works by stopping ovulation)
- Other forms of hormonal birth control
- Stage of life
- Breastfeeding
- Perimenopause and menopause
- Recent pregnancy or recent pregnancy loss
What are the steps I can take to help regulate my cycle?
Step 1: See your Doctor
Go and get a comprehensive check-up from your doctor. It’s always best to check that there is nothing else going on before making any lifestyle changes.
Step 2: Take a look at your diet!
Studies have shown that dietary changes can help to regulate your cycle and help you ovulate more consistently. It’s always best to get personalized advice from a dietitian, but you can start with:
- Follow a Mediterranean-style diet (think plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats like extra-virgin olive oil, nuts and seeds, legumes, seafood (especially oily fish at least twice a week), moderate intake of dairy foods, eggs, and poultry, and limited consumption of red meat). A study of nearly 18,000 women found that following a ‘fertility’ or Mediterranean-style diet was associated with regular cycles (and ovulation!).
- Include some plant-based proteins (like lentils, beans, tofu, tempeh, and peanut butter). Research shows that swapping just 5% of your total energy intake from animal-based proteins to plant-based proteins was associated with a greater than 50% lower risk of ovulatory infertility (being unable to fall pregnant because you aren’t ovulating).
- Consume plenty of folate-containing foods (dark leafy green vegetables, fruit, nuts, and seeds) and take a folate supplement. Studies have found an association between adequate folate intake and regular ovulation.
- Balance your blood sugars. Research shows that slightly higher blood sugars (even within the healthy range and even for those without diabetes) are associated with a longer time to pregnancy.
Step 3: Get plenty of sleep.
Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. Studies have shown that poor sleep is associated with disturbances in menstrual function. This was highlighted in shift workers who were more likely to report irregular and longer cycles.
Step 4: Think about how you can best manage your stress levels.
Don’t worry, we’re not telling you to “just relax”! We know this is such a tricky one when you’re struggling to conceive. Studies have shown that when we are stressed, particularly for long periods of time, our hormone levels are disrupted. This can cause your cycle to become irregular and even sometimes stop completely. If you are feeling stressed, it’s often best to start by talking to a professional. You can also try journaling, regular exercise, and meditation to help keep your stress in check.
Step 5: Cut back on alcohol (and cease recreational drug use and smoking)
We know that large amounts of alcohol aren’t good for your fertility. Alcohol is believed to impact our cycles through the suppression of follicle development and ovulation by elevating our estrogen levels. Does that mean you need to stop drinking entirely while trying to conceive? It wouldn’t hurt! But if you (like many people) find it difficult to do, enjoying one to two standard drinks occasionally is unlikely to greatly impact your cycles and fertility.
So while some aspects of fertility may be out of your control, there are many dietary and lifestyle changes that you can make to help regulate your menstrual cycle and increase your chances of regular ovulation and (fingers crossed!) pregnancy. Making small, but sustainable changes to your lifestyle each day, can make a big difference in the long run.
Who Should and Shouldn't Freeze Their Eggs
Thinking about delaying having kids for a while? Maybe you’re focused on your career, haven't found the right partner, or just aren't ready yet. Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) is a way to take some pressure off that biological clock and increase your fertility options. But is it right for you? Let’s dive into some of the factors doctors use to help people determine if they are a good candidate for egg freezing.
Thinking about delaying having kids for a while? Maybe you’re focused on your career, haven't found the right partner, or just aren't ready yet. Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) is a way to take some pressure off that biological clock and increase your fertility options. But is it right for you?
Let’s dive into some of the factors doctors use to help people determine if they are a good candidate for egg freezing.
Who is a good candidate for egg freezing?
There's no one-size-fits-all answer to who should consider egg freezing (planned fertility preservation). It depends on several factors, including your age, your ovarian reserve (how many eggs you have left), your family-building goals, and when you realistically see yourself wanting children. Anyone thinking about egg freezing should be aware of the chances of getting pregnant using those eggs later, and understand that there's no guarantee of a baby.
One of the most important factors is your age. The younger you are at the time of freezing, the better the quality of your eggs, and the higher your chances of a successful pregnancy later. Those under 35 generally have the highest success rates with egg freezing.
Read more in At What Age Should I Freeze My Eggs?
In addition to age, your doctor will look at your ovarian reserve. Tests like AMH (Anti-Müllerian hormone), FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), E2 (estradiol), and an ultrasound to see your antral follicle count will give them a picture of how many eggs you have left. This information helps them provide guidance on how many eggs you could expect to retrieve during the freezing process and your overall chances of success.
Egg freezing might also be the right choice for those with certain medical conditions, or those with a family history of early menopause.
Because the answer is different for everyone, you’ll want to have an egg-freezing consultation with a fertility doctor. They'll help you assess the pros, cons, costs, and your individual success rates.
Who is not a good candidate for egg freezing?
Ultimately, the decision will be up to you and your fertility doctor. But there are a few factors that could lead your doctor to dissuade you from freezing your eggs. This includes:
- Over 45: The success rates of egg freezing drop significantly beyond age 45 due to decreased ovarian reserve and lower egg quality. While some clinics might offer the procedure, it's important to have realistic expectations about the low chances of pregnancy.
- Severely diminished ovarian reserve: Hormone tests and an antral follicle count provide an estimate of how many eggs are remaining. If these numbers indicate very low ovarian reserve, egg freezing is unlikely to yield enough eggs to make it worthwhile.
- Planning to conceive soon: If you plan to try for a baby within a year or two, egg freezing usually isn't necessary. The odds of conceiving naturally within that time frame are often good, especially if you are younger. Unless there are underlying medical reasons for concern, it makes more sense to try conceiving naturally first.
- No ovaries: Since egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) involves retrieving eggs from the ovaries, this procedure is not an option for those without ovaries.
Even if you fall into one of these categories, it's worth a consultation with a fertility specialist. They can provide personalized guidance based on your specific situation and help you explore all your options.
Why would someone need to freeze their eggs?
There are many reasons why someone might consider freezing their eggs. One major factor is age-related fertility decline. As people age, both the quality and quantity of their eggs naturally decrease. Freezing eggs at a younger age allows for the preservation of higher-quality eggs, potentially increasing the chances of a successful pregnancy later in life.
Medical reasons also play a significant role. Conditions like cancer, endometriosis, or surgeries with the potential to affect the ovaries can lead to premature infertility. Egg freezing allows individuals to preserve their fertility before undergoing treatments that might compromise it. Egg freezing is also an option for transgender men considering gender-affirming surgery or hormone therapy. It allows them to retain the possibility of having biological children in the future.
Those with a family history of early menopause might also consider egg freezing. If you have female relatives who experienced early menopause, you could be at higher risk. Egg freezing gives you greater control over your fertility timeline.
Sometimes, egg freezing simply centers around flexibility in life planning. Some people choose to delay childbearing to pursue education, establish their careers, or find the right partner. Egg freezing can provide peace of mind and increased options when it comes to building a family.
At what age should you freeze your eggs?
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), an optimal time to freeze your eggs is in your 20s and early 30s, while you have a higher ovarian reserve and eggs are healthier. So whether you’re 25 or 35, you can absolutely freeze your eggs!
A large 2020 study at a fertility clinic that specializes in this area looked at egg-freezing cycles for over 1,200 people. It compared the average number of eggs people of different ages were able to freeze versus the “optimal” or goal number of eggs they should freeze. This goal number was based on how many eggs would give them a 70% live birth rate after doing 1 or 2 egg freezing cycles (this rate is calculated using some other numbers and it typically goes up as we age to make up for the lower number of healthy eggs).
The study found that younger people, unsurprisingly, have an easier time freezing the goal number of eggs in one cycle. As people aged, they needed multiple egg freezing cycles to reach that goal number. These findings bring up a common question– is it worth freezing eggs after age 35?
Is it worth freezing your eggs after 35?
Well, it depends. The ASRM does not recommend egg freezing for people older than 38, but this isn’t a strict cutoff. Everyone’s fertility goes down at a different rate. Having your fertility hormones checked can sometimes help you and your doctor get a general idea of what your ovarian reserve is. This can better help you decide if egg freezing is right for you.
To freeze or not to freeze, that is the question
When trying to decide if you should freeze your eggs, it’s important to know that egg freezing is not an “insurance policy” for your fertility. While egg freezing can take some of the stress of having a baby right now off your shoulders, it is not a guarantee that you’ll have a baby in the future.
Why not? Well, not all the eggs that get frozen will actually be viable. It’s expected that some eggs will not survive the warming process. In addition, the chances of the eggs that do survive being successfully fertilized depends partially on how old you were when you froze them (more on this later).
This is not to sway your decision one way or another. Ultimately, only you and your doctor can decide if egg freezing is the right decision for you. But it's important to go in knowing that it’s not meant to be a done deal.
Freeze your eggs 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.
Summing it up
Here are the factors to consider if you are debating if egg freezing is right for you:
- Age matters a lot. The younger you are at the time of freezing, the better the quality of your eggs, and the higher your chances of a successful pregnancy later. Those under the age of 35 generally have the highest success rates with egg freezing. Egg freezing isn't recommended for people older than 45 due to low chances of success.
- Think about your timeline. How long do you plan to wait to have children? Egg freezing is great for a longer delay, but likely not worthwhile if you’re only thinking a year or two ahead.
- Check your eggs. Tests like AMH, FSH, and ultrasounds with follicle count can give you a picture of your ovarian reserve (aka, how many eggs you have left).
- It's not a guarantee. Even with frozen eggs, there's no promise of having a baby in the future.
- The $ factor. Egg freezing is expensive! Most insurance plans don't cover it, so be prepared for an out-of-pocket cost. Or consider our Split program where you can freeze your eggs for free when donating half to a family that can’t otherwise conceive.
Freezing your eggs is a big decision, and it's different for everyone. The best thing to do? Talk to a fertility specialist! They'll help you understand the pros, cons, chances of success, and whether it makes sense for your particular situation.
AMH 101: Everything You Need to Know
Everything you need to know about the little signal your ovaries send out called Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH).
Ever scrolled through that health and wellness side of social media and stumbled upon something called AMH? Maybe your best friend casually mentioned getting her AMH tested, and you were too embarrassed to ask what the heck she was talking about. You're young, you feel great, and having babies isn't even on your radar right now. But here's the thing: understanding this thing called AMH could be a major game-changer for your future.
What is AMH?
AMH stands for Anti-Müllerian Hormone. Think of it as a little signal your ovaries send out. This hormone level tells your doctor about how many eggs you have left – also known as your ovarian reserve. Basically, AMH is one clue into your fertility. And, here's why you should care even if kids aren't on your mind yet.
Why does AMH matter in your 20s and 30s?
AMH can be a helpful biomarker for your health and fertility. Why?
- Knowledge is power: Knowing your AMH levels gives you valuable insights into your reproductive timeline. It helps you make informed decisions about when you might want to start a family and whether fertility preservation options (like freezing your eggs) might be something to consider down the road.
- Fertility isn't forever: You might think of your 20s as your prime fertility years, and while you're not wrong, it's not the full picture. Your fertility peaks in your early 20s and starts a gradual decline in your mid-30s. For some people, this decline is faster, and AMH levels can give you a heads-up.
- Unexpected roadblocks: AMH testing can help detect potential fertility issues early on, like Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) or premature ovarian insufficiency. Getting this info sooner rather than later can help you take steps to manage these conditions and protect your fertility.
What can AMH test results tell you?
So what exactly can AMH tell you about your fertility? Your AMH level is positively correlated with the number of follicles you have in your ovaries. Simply put, the more follicles you have, the higher your AMH level typically is. As a result, AMH levels have been shown to be a good predictor of ovarian reserve and someone’s expected response to fertility treatments.
In fact, several studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between what your AMH level is and the number of mature eggs retrieved during an egg freezing or in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle. To learn more about those studies, check out AMH and Egg Retrieval Outcomes.
What your AMH level can’t tell you is the exact number of eggs you have left in your ovaries or what your chances of pregnancy are. There are a number of other factors like your age, overall health, and genetics that also affect the number and quality of eggs and your overall fertility. So while AMH can be a useful tool in assessing your fertility, it shouldn’t be the only factor when making decisions about fertility treatments.
So, you got your AMH tested. Now what? Here's a basic breakdown of what those numbers usually mean:
- Normal AMH means you're right on track for your age – good news!
- High AMH might suggest a good number of eggs remaining, and potentially even point towards conditions like PCOS where your egg count is unusually high.
- Low AMH could mean you have fewer eggs remaining than typical for your age group. It might signal a faster decline in fertility, but it doesn't mean you can't get pregnant at all.
Remember, your AMH level is just one piece of the fertility puzzle. Other factors like your overall health, other hormone levels, family history, and lifestyle habits matter too!
What are normal AMH numbers?
What is considered a “normal” AMH level depends on your age, as well as the lab where you take the test. Since there is no international standard, it’s best to use the reference ranges included on the test results (your doctor can share those with you if you did a test through a clinic).
In general, however, an AMH between 1.0 and 3.5 ng/mL suggests a “normal” range that is likely to have a good response to egg freezing.
Common reasons for high AMH
The most common reason for high AMH is that you are very fertile and likely to retrieve more eggs in an egg freezing cycle. But, it does not necessarily mean that the eggs are of good quality. Egg quality is determined by factors such as your age, genetics, and environmental factors, and cannot be measured directly by AMH levels.
But a high AMH level may also indicate PCOS, which is a hormonal disorder that affects 8–13% of females of reproductive age. Those with PCOS typically have high levels of androgens (male hormones) and may have irregular periods, acne, and excess hair growth. Patients with an average AMH level ≥ 4.45 ng/ml have a 9.35 times higher likelihood of developing PCOS, but not all patients with a high AMH have PCOS.
In rare cases, abnormally high AMH could be a sign of an ovarian tumor. Certain types of ovarian tumors, such as granulosa cell tumors, can produce high levels of AMH.
Read more in: What Does a High AMH Result Mean?
Common reasons AMH would be low
By far, the most common reason for a low AMH is age. People with ovaries are born with all the eggs that they’re going to have in their lifetime. These eggs are then slowly used up over time as you ovulate during each menstrual cycle until menopause is reached. As a result, ovarian reserve naturally decreases over time, meaning the AMH level also decreases.
Research suggests that hormonal birth control may affect AMH levels but it depends on the type of birth control. Specifically, birth control use is associated with a lower average AMH level than for people who are not on birth control, with the exact effect depending on the type of birth control.
The amount of time you’re on birth control may also be a factor. Multiple studies have shown that AMH doesn't change if you use combined oral contraceptive pills for less than six months. However, you may have a lower AMH if you’ve been a long-term user of the pill (or other hormonal methods). Thankfully, this is temporary – AMH levels typically rebound after a person stops using birth control.
There are several other, less common causes for a low AMH level. These include:
- Genetic disorders that affect the X chromosome
- Medical treatments like radiation or chemotherapy
- Having surgery on your ovaries
- Losing one or both of your ovaries
- Autoimmune conditions
Read more in: What Does a Low AMH Result Mean?
Factors that can influence AMH levels
It's important to know that some things can temporarily or even permanently change your AMH:
Birth control
Certain types of birth control can suppress your natural AMH levels. One study looked at data from women on various types of birth control and found:
- Combined oral contraceptive pill led to 23.7% lower AMH
- Progestin-only pill led to 14.8% lower AMH
- Vaginal ring led to 22.1% lower AMH
- IUD led to 6.7% lower AMH
- Implant led to 23.4% lower AMH
- Copper intrauterine device led to 1.6% lower AMH
The authors concluded that birth control use is associated with a lower mean AMH level when compared to those who are not on contraceptives, with variation depending on the type of birth control
Health conditions
Things like PCOS, endometriosis, vitamin D deficiency, or even a recent ovarian surgery can impact your AMH levels.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy treatments for conditions like cancer can significantly lower AMH levels. Research indicates that pre-chemotherapy AMH levels may be helpful in predicting ovarian function and potential fertility after treatment. A prospective study of women treated with chemotherapy for early breast cancer showed that long-term ovarian function after treatment was predictable using serum AMH levels before treatment.
Obesity
Studies suggest a connection between obesity and lower AMH levels, though the exact relationship is complex. Obesity is linked to hormonal imbalances and inflammation, which can disrupt ovarian function and potentially affect AMH production. However, it's important to note that not everyone with obesity experiences lowered AMH, and other factors could also be at play. More research is needed.
Smoking
Studies have also shown that tobacco use, usually cigarette smoking, decreases AMH levels. This effect appears to be reversible though–it was only seen in people who were active smokers, not people who had previously smoked.
What is a good AMH level for egg freezing?
Research has found that AMH is a good predictor of the response to ovarian stimulation and the number of eggs retrieved. Because of this, fertility doctors typically use your AMH levels (along with other biomarkers) to determine the drugs and dosages you will need to maximize your response to ovarian stimulation.
Now, what about a correlation between AMH and actual babies born (live birth rate)? Well, while AMH does seem to have some association with live birth rates after IVF, its ability to actually predict a live birth is not that great. This is especially true for younger people. A 2021 study found that AMH is a good predictor of live birth in older (>39 years old), but not younger, people. They found that younger participants (≤38 years old) could get pregnant even with low AMH levels as long as they had frequent egg retrievals.
Does AMH predict the number of eggs you will retrieve during egg freezing?
The overall success of an egg freezing cycle largely depends on the number and quality of eggs retrieved. Studies have shown that AMH levels can be used as a predictor of egg quantity, and can thus help to predict the potential success of egg freezing. Those with higher AMH levels tend to have better outcomes with egg freezing, as they are likely to have more eggs retrieved and a higher chance of success in future fertility treatments.
But by no means does a high AMH level guarantee a lot of eggs during an egg retrieval procedure for fertility treatments. The number of eggs retrieved during an egg freezing cycle depends on several factors, including your age, ovarian response to stimulation medications, any other underlying medication conditions, and the skill of the fertility doctor performing the procedure.
When eggs are retrieved, only a portion of those eggs will be mature. A mature egg is one that’s ready and able to be fertilized. At most clinics, any non-mature eggs are discarded, though you can talk to your clinic about whether they’re open to freezing those too.
Multiple studies have shown a strong correlation between AMH levels and mature eggs retrieved during egg freezing or IVF.
Let’s look at a few of the studies:
The study: Correlation between anti-Müllerian hormone, age, and number of oocytes
Who: 1500 patients in Brazil between July 2012 and April 2019
The findings: “A positive correlation was found between serum AMH levels and total number of retrieved and mature oocytes from stimulated cycles”
Who: 1,112 patients undergoing an egg retrieval as part of ART
The findings: “AMH showed a stronger correlation with egg number compared with age over a wide age range”
Who: 314 infertility patients with an average age of 31.0 ± 4.5 years
The findings: “the AMH level of women of all ages was positively correlated with the number of retrieved oocytes “
Who: 58 women with fluctuating and persistently high serum day 3 (D3) FSH.
The findings: “These data demonstrate for the first time that serum AMH is a prognostic indicator independent of age and FSH of the number of eggs retrieved”
Who: 73 women undergoing ART with elevated early follicular FSH levels
The findings: “Random AMH levels were strongly correlated with the number of oocytes retrieved during an ART cycle among women with elevated FSH”
Read more in AMH and Egg Retrieval Outcomes
What AMH do I need to donate my eggs?
Through Cofertility’s 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. In the context of donating through our Split program, having an appropriate level of AMH is important. Fertility doctors typically consider an AMH level above 2.0 ng/ml as a good indicator for egg donation, and this is the benchmark used at Cofertility. Note that some clinics have a higher requirement.
This level suggests that you are likely to respond well to fertility treatments and produce a sufficient number of eggs for both donation and personal use. This allows us to proceed with the egg retrieval process in a manner that is both safe and effective.
However, if your AMH level is lower than this, it does not necessarily mean you cannot freeze your eggs. You can still qualify for 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.
Everyone is unique, and AMH is just one factor of many that we consider during the evaluation process. You can learn more about qualifications for our Split program here.
When should I test my fertility?
So, when is the “right” age for testing your fertility, anyway?
It depends.
And ultimately, it’s up to you! It’s your body, and your data, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. We’re firm believers that knowledge is power and you deserve this information. Studies do show that our ovarian reserve declines with age — in other words, it’s a good idea to assess your fertility potential sooner rather than later. That way, if you do want to preventatively freeze your eggs, you can do so while your ovarian reserve is still higher.
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the optimal time to freeze your eggs is in your 20s and early 30s. This study also indicated that, as we get older, our chances of needing to do multiple egg freezing cycles increase in order to achieve a 70% live birth rate. We know we’re a bit of a broken record here, but: the younger you are, the healthier and more plentiful your eggs are.
Should I test my fertility at home or in a clinic?
At-home fertility tests have gained popularity in recent years due to their convenience and privacy. These tests typically involve collecting blood or urine samples and mailing them to a laboratory for analysis. On the other hand, in-clinic fertility tests are conducted at a medical facility, where specialized equipment and healthcare professionals are available.
The pros of at-home fertility tests include:
- Convenience and privacy: Samples can be collected in the comfort of your home.
- Cost-effective: At-home tests are often more affordable than in-clinic procedures.
- Early assessment: At-home tests allow you to gain insights into your fertility potential before actively trying to conceive. Plus, you won’t have to wait to get squeezed in for an appointment at the clinic!
The pros of testing your fertility at a clinic:
- A broader scope: At-home tests may not provide a comprehensive evaluation of fertility health, while testing your fertility at a clinic provides a more comprehensive picture of your fertility. An important note is, when testing your fertility at a clinic, you’ll also undergo a transvaginal ultrasound, where the technician or doctor will be able to get a view of what’s going on in those ovaries and the number of follicles available this cycle.
- Better accuracy: Some at-home tests may have varying levels of accuracy when compared to in-clinic tests.
- Facetime: At a clinic, you’ll have the ability to chat directly with a doctor, before and after your results.
If you do end up going with an at-home test, we have an exclusive discount with the LetsGetChecked Ovarian Reserve Test. It’s $139, and you can get 25% off with code COFERTILITY25. But there are many other options as well.
Although at-home fertility tests are a great way to get a peek behind the curtain of your fertility, they aren’t without limitations. For starters, according to recent studies, measuring AMH alone may not predict your time to pregnancy. As mentioned above, testing your fertility with a doctor at a clinic will likely provide a more comprehensive picture of your fertility outlook, especially as they consider your medical history, and conduct a physical exam and transvaginal ultrasound. Of course, you’ll also get professional interpretation of the results that you may not receive with an at-home fertility test.
All of that being said, any fertility testing (whether at home or in a clinic) only measures your fertility at that given point in time. It should not be taken as a guarantee for future outcomes. It also can’t tell you anything about your egg quality, which cannot be truly observed until it comes time to actually fertilize those eggs.
You are not a number
Repeat after me: you are more than one number! Your AMH level provides valuable insights into your ovarian reserve, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to your fertility. AMH is always used as part of a full fertility evaluation, which often includes information about your medical history and age, a partner semen analysis, an ultrasound of the pelvis, an x-ray of the uterus and fallopian tubes, and/or additional lab work.
If that sounds like a lot, it is. This process can be overwhelming but focusing on the things that you can control can help you feel more grounded during your fertility journey, whatever that may look like.
Read more:
Understanding the Risks of Zika in Egg Freezing and Donation
In this article, we will delve into what the Zika virus is, where you could contract it, and how it could impact the outcome of egg freezing cycles. Additionally, we will discuss the regulations and guidelines set forth by fertility clinics, as well as specific considerations for egg donation. The TLDR: we recommend proper planning, timing, and precautions when it comes to traveling to an area affected by Zika.
So, you want to freeze your eggs, but you also want to travel — potentially to an area reportedly affected by the Zika virus. You’ve heard a lot here and there about the serious risks of Zika, but does living your globetrotting dreams mean you need to put your egg freezing plans on hold?
In this article, we will delve into what the Zika virus is, where you could contract it, and how it could impact the outcome of egg freezing cycles. Additionally, we will discuss the regulations and guidelines set forth by fertility clinics, as well as specific considerations for egg donation. The TLDR: we recommend proper planning, timing, and precautions, (especially if you’re freezing your eggs for free when you donate half to another family who can’t conceive), when it comes to traveling to an area affected by Zika.
What is Zika and where is it found?
Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. While Zika virus infection often presents with mild symptoms, such as fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis, it poses a significant risk to pregnant individuals due to its association with congenital Zika syndrome, which can result in severe birth defects such as microcephaly.
The virus has been found to persist in bodily fluids, including semen and vaginal secretions, for an extended period, raising concerns about the potential transmission of Zika through reproductive tissues. So, even if you yourself did not travel to a Zika-affected area, if you had sex with someone who did, there still poses a risk. Unfortunately, there are currently no vaccines available to prevent contracting Zika.
Zika virus has been reported in various regions globally, with particular prevalence in tropical and subtropical areas. Countries with ongoing transmission of Zika virus include but are not limited to parts of Central and South America, the Caribbean, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. It's important for individuals considering egg freezing to stay informed about current Zika-affected regions, as travel to these areas may impact their fertility treatment plans. The good news is that according to the CDC, since 2019, there have been no confirmed Zika virus cases from US territories.
How Zika could impact your egg freezing cycle?
Research about Zika and egg freezing is scarce and ongoing. But if you’re considering undergoing egg freezing, exposure to Zika could have implications on the success of the procedure. Zika virus infection could potentially impact the quality and viability of eggs, leading to compromised outcomes in your egg-freezing cycle. And because Zika is a virus that may be able to be transmitted sexually, there is a concern that the risk of Zika can be transmitted through the fertilization process.
Fertility clinic regulations and guidelines
In response to the Zika virus outbreak, many fertility clinics have implemented strict regulations and guidelines to mitigate the risk of transmission and ensure the safety of patients undergoing assisted reproductive procedures. These regulations often include restrictions on travel to Zika-affected areas for individuals undergoing fertility treatments, including egg freezing.
We recommend notifying your fertility clinic as soon as possible of any upcoming travel to a Zika-affected area, and you can discuss with your doctor how this should (or shouldn’t) impact your cycle timeline.
Zika guidelines for egg donation
When it comes to egg donation in particular, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have provided guidance to fertility clinics regarding the handling of reproductive tissues in the context of Zika virus transmission. According to the latest guidance published in 2018, the use of sperm, eggs, and embryos from a donor is not recommended if he/she/they:
- Have had a diagnosis of Zika virus infection in the past 6 months
- Reside in or traveled to an area with active Zika virus transmission within the past 6 months
- Have had sex with a person if within the past six months that person was diagnosed with Zika, experienced an illness consistent with Zika, or traveled to an area with active Zika transmission
This guidance applies to both disclosed and undisclosed donations. However, in the case of a disclosed donation, many fertility clinics are willing to waive the six-month quarantine if both the donor and intended parents agree.
So, what should you do?
We get it — when there’s still so much to learn about Zika, understanding its potential impact upon your egg freezing cycle can feel confusing. If you’re planning an egg freezing or donation cycle, it’s crucial to stay informed about Zika-affected areas and adhere to the regulations and guidelines set forth by fertility clinics and regulatory bodies.
Again, when in doubt, consult with your reproductive endocrinologist for the latest guidance and recommendations. They’ll help you navigate how this may affect your egg freezing timeline and decision-making. By prioritizing safety and asking the right questions, you can make informed choices to protect your reproductive health and achieve your fertility goals.
How to Cope with Loss During the Egg Thawing Process
Before embarking on egg freezing, it is important to be well informed and have realistic expectations regarding the likelihood of future use and outcomes. Although egg freezing has high success rates it is not a guarantee or an insurance policy as some do experience loss during the thawing process.
In 2012, when the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) removed the “experimental” label off of egg freezing, it began a new era of empowering women with taking control of their reproductive choices.
According to SART data, egg freezing in the United States increased by 880% between 2010 and 2016. In a recent 2021 study, a total of 231 patients with 280 cycles were reviewed. 74.2% of oocytes survived thaw/warming, and 68.8% of surviving oocytes were successfully fertilized with a live birth rate of 33.8%
Although egg freezing has high success rates it is not a guarantee or an insurance policy as some do experience loss during the thawing process. The emotional and psychological impact of potential loss during this stage can be very painful. Before embarking on egg freezing, it is important to be well informed and have realistic expectations regarding the likelihood of future use and outcomes.
Emotional responses to loss in fertility treatments
Reasons behind wanting or needing to use cryopreservation vary from a young woman who is not yet ready to start a family to someone undergoing medical treatment. The idea of being able to stop the biological clock is not only exciting but can be a relief and bring some peace of mind. But, what happens for those who return to use their cryopreserved oocytes only to come out empty-handed? This unique loss creates intense disappointment, grief, guilt, and stress.
Grieving and processing the loss
It can be incredibly painful to come to terms with this type of loss. You may feel that options have run out and that the door to parenthood has been closed. Processing this loss is difficult because it can feel invisible. This loss represents the demise of something that never was - this ‘thing’ was only something that was seen with your mind’s eye, your heart, and your soul. Because of the invisibility of this loss, you may feel that your feelings are not being recognized or acknowledged, or that you are not being validated or supported during this time.
Give yourself some breathing room. Let all the emotions come up and let them be for a bit - it is okay to feel angry, bitter, sad, hurt. These are normal reactions to this type of loss. We work so hard to avoid or push our emotions away. But how to process loss and how to grieve means to notice our emotions, name them, and allow them to come and go on their own time.
Seeking support and building a support network
Healthy ways to process emotions can include talking to loved ones and telling them what it is that you need from them. If that does not feel right then start building a support network consisting of online or local support groups composed of people going through the same things. Never underestimate the role of professional support especially by counselors specializing in fertility issues. They can help you manage emotions and give you a safe space to talk.
Self-care and coping strategies
Explore different methods of self-care that feel right for you such as engaging in hobbies or participating in creative or social activities. These can be anything from journaling, exercising, being in nature etc.
Summing it up
Egg freezing has afforded women the ability to start a family on their own terms. Science has found a hack to nature’s biological clock. But before embarking on egg freezing and thawing, set realistic expectations. Understand that there can be many different outcomes. And not all have a happy ending. Do your research, ask a lot of questions. And most importantly, be kind to yourself.
Mastering the Art of Egg Freezing Injections: Your Guide to Fertility Injections and How to Administer Them
Injectable medication shots can be daunting - mentally, emotionally, and physically - but an essential aspect of egg freezing. This article aims to provide clinically-sourced tips to guide you through it.
Egg freezing is, undoubtedly, one of the most empowering journeys anyone with a uterus can embark on. One of the biggest reasons you’ll feel like you can conquer the world after an egg freezing cycle is also one of the least fun parts about it: the injections.
If you’ve already begun to explore freezing your eggs, you know that the process requires administering injectable medication shots. So a thorough understanding of how they work — and how to get through them all (mentally, emotionally, and physically) — is essential. This article aims to provide clinically-sourced tips to guide you through this crucial aspect of egg freezing.
Types of egg freezing shots and medications
At its core, egg freezing involves the use of injectable medications to stimulate the ovaries, promote egg development through maturity, and enhance the chances of a successful egg retrieval. What doctors — and you — are looking for is strong egg volume and quality, and certain medications are used to help you on the road to get there.
These medications fall into a few categories:
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
FSH medications stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs.
Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
LH medications support the final maturation of eggs within the ovaries.
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonists/Antagonists
These medications prevent premature ovulation, ensuring that eggs are retrieved at the optimal time.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)
hCG triggers the final maturation of the eggs, preparing them for retrieval. Otherwise known as a “trigger shot,” this shot is timed right before your retrieval so they are at peak maturity (without ovulating, of course!).
The number of shots required varies among individuals, but it typically ranges from 10 to 20 injections over a period of 8 to 14 days. While the idea of injections may seem daunting, many individuals find the process totally manageable with proper guidance.
At Cofertility, all Freeze by Co members gain access to our free member community portal, where we share tons of egg freezing tutorial videos that walk you through the whole thing, step-by-step. You can also ask a partner, friend, or family member to help!
Do egg-freezing shots hurt?
The pain associated with egg freezing shots is subjective and varies among individuals. Most commonly, individuals report feeling a mild discomfort or a slight pinch during the injection. Here are some tips on managing egg freezing injections and making the process more comfortable, but you can dive into more here.
Tips for making injections painless
Utilize the right technique
Proper injection technique is crucial for minimizing pain. The angle and speed at which the needle is inserted, as well as the depth of injection, can impact the level of discomfort. Our videos in our community member portal provide a good, close look at the right technique and method of injection. If you have extra syringes, you can also practice injecting water on a peach or another fruit!
Ice the injection site
Applying an ice pack to the injection site for a few minutes before the injection can numb the area, making the process more comfortable.
Let medications reach room temperature
Allowing the medications to reach room temperature before injection can reduce the sensation of cold, making the process more comfortable. (Of course, you’ll want to read the packaging or talk to your doctor to make sure this is okay for your specific medication).
Take deep breaths
Practicing deep breathing exercises before and during the injection can help relax the muscles, making the process less painful.
Troubleshooting egg-freezing shots
Despite careful planning and execution, you may encounter some issues with egg freezing injections. It’s essential to be aware of potential challenges and know when to call your clinic.
Missed or incorrect dosages
Missing or administering an incorrect dosage can impact the efficacy of the egg freezing process. In case of a missed or potentially incorrect or missed dosage, it is crucial to contact your doctor immediately for guidance on the appropriate course of action. Most fertility clinics have on-call support that you can contact after hours if needed.
Injection site reactions
Some individuals may experience redness, swelling, or bruising at the injection site. These reactions are generally mild and temporary. However, persistent or severe reactions should be reported to your doctor for evaluation.
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) risks
OHSS is a potential (though low) risk of egg freezing, during which your ovaries can become overstimulated as a reaction to the fertility medication. If you experience symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, nausea, or shortness of breath, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention.
If you’re afraid of needles
We get it. Sometimes, even with the most support and the best resources, you just might not be able to get yourself there when it comes to needles — even if you really want to freeze your eggs. If this is the case, talk to your doctor about a protocol known as “mini IVF”.
Mini IVF is a newer, needle-free alternative to fertility injections, where fertility medication is given via capsule form instead. Often, mini IVF candidates include those who are at higher risk of developing OHSS or those who actually have lower ovarian reserves that may not be able to be helped much with injectable medications anyway.
If this is you, chat with your doctor to see if you’re a candidate for mini IVF and what kinds of results to expect.
Summing it up
Mastering the art of egg freezing involves meticulous attention to ordering, organizing, and administering injectable medication shots. We’ve got your back with tons more educational content and egg-freezing tips.
If this article’s got you feeling like you can conquer the world (10-14 days of egg-freezing injections? No sweat!), check out our Split program, where you can freeze your eggs for *free* when you donate half to another family who can’t conceive. By donating half of their frozen eggs to LGBTQ+ parents, those with infertility, or cancer survivors, participants in our Split program can make a meaningful impact for themselves and others. Apply for our Split program today.
Can You Actually Test Your Fertility At Home?
Whatever your reason for wanting to take an at-home fertility test, here’s what you need to know about what your options are, how they work, and what you can expect to learn.
Can you test your fertility from the comfort of your own home? The answer is a bit complicated. Isn’t it always when it comes to fertility? Yes, there are some tests that both men and women can take at home to get a better idea about some aspects of their fertility. But are they an acceptable substitute for an individualized appointment with a fertility specialist?
Unfortunately, no—while these tests are often fairly accurate, that’s not really the issue here, says Dr. Jaime Knopman, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist. It’s all the medical expertise you’re missing out on when you test your fertility at home.
“The tests we run in our clinic are much more accurate because our job can’t be done completely by machine,” she explains. “It’s not just the tests, it’s the person interpreting them.”
But you still might not live close to a fertility clinic, have insurance that covers fertility appointments or testing, or even feel like you’re really at the point yet in your fertility journey where you need a formal eval from a specialist. We get that.
So whatever your reason for wanting to take an at-home fertility test, here’s what you need to know about what your options are, how they work, and what you can expect to learn.
How can I test my fertility at home: for women
When it comes to the ladies, there are two main varieties of tests you can do at home: you can check your ovarian reserve and you can do a broad panel screening for several different hormones that play a part in fertility health. Here’s the scoop.
Ovarian reserve tests measure the amount of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in your blood with a pinprick. Typically, you collect a sample yourself and mail it back to the company so they can read and deliver your results. Very high levels of FSH can be a sign that you don’t have a lot of eggs, that they’re poor quality, or both, because your body is working overtime to produce enough FSH to release a healthy egg.
- Taking this test feels like a typical finger prick. It hurts for a sec and then you’re over it. You will have to squeeze out some blood into designated spots on a testing card, though, so if you’re blood-averse be prepared.
- The tests themselves can accurately check your FSH level, but there’s more than one way to figure out what your ovarian reserve looks like. Only measuring FSH will give you a piece of the puzzle...but could also cause you to unnecessarily panic about your fertility. Try not to do that! Remember, these tests are useful, but not foolproof.
- FSH levels alone may not be a great way to assess your fertility in the first place. A 2017 JAMA study found that biomarkers like FSH aren’t the best predictors of future fertility in women with reduced versus normal ovarian reserves.
Fertility health screenings capture your FSH level but also a bunch of other hormones that impact your fertility in one way or another. The exact hormones measured in an OTC fertility test differ between companies, but you can usually find out your FSH level and any or all of the following:
- thyroid-stimulating hormone, or TSH a marker of thyroid health)
- estradiol (helps with ovulation)
- anti-mullerian hormone, or AMH (an indicator of egg reserve)
- prolactin (makes breast milk after birth)
- luteinizing hormone, or LH (regulates your cycle, especially ovulation)
- testosterone (helps make follicles, but too much may mess up your fertility)
These tests all work like the ovarian reserve test: you prick your finger, collect some blood samples, send the samples back to the company, and then wait for your results to come in. Usually, you’ll get factual data (like, “your TSH is off”) but also an explanation of what that might mean for your fertility.
Most companies allow you to see your results online and consult with an on-staff medical professional if you have questions or don’t understand your results. They’re pretty easy to order online, but many aren’t cheap—they’re usually about $150—and you’ll have to pay out of pocket.
How can I test my fertility: for men
The only kind of male fertility test that can be done at home is a sperm analysis. About half of all couples’ infertility problems can be caused by male infertility, so knowing if your swimmers are strong or not is a good place to start if you’ve been trying to conceive for a while.
There are actually several different kinds of sperm analysis kits; sometimes you collect a sample and send it through the mail for testing, sometimes you put some sperm on a slide and insert it into a testing device, and sometimes you can even use your smartphone (yes, for real!).
- Testing at home is private and confidential. You don’t have to worry about being unable to provide a sample at an unfamiliar clinic or doctor’s office.
- The kits you send off to labs via mail can be more accurate, but at the same time, there’s a lot that can go wrong here—like failure to keep the sperm stored at just the right temp, which can cause damage to the sample. At-home tests, while giving quicker results with no middle-man, have a lot of potential for both user and technology errors.
- Male fertility is about more than just the amount of sperm: there’s motility, shape, concentration...the list goes on. If your at-home kit is only looking at the number of sperm, your results may not be that helpful. Try to choose a test that looks at more than one type of factor—this will give you the most bang for your buck.
Don’t forget about ovulation!
While ovulation predictor kits only tell you if and when you’re ovulating, this can be very helpful if you’re actively TTC.
These kits work by detecting the presence of LH in the urine, says David Diaz, MD, reproductive endocrinologist and fertility expert. When your LH rises above a certain level, the test strip you’ve peed on will let you know that an ovary is just about to release an egg. This is a good time to get it on, since there’s a good chance that egg could become fertilized.
According to Dr. Diaz, these tests are about 85 percent accurate and available as digital and non-digital tests. If you have fairly regular menstrual cycles, an ovulation predictor kit can be a useful tool in identifying exactly when your fertile window is, but if your cycles are irregular (because of PCOS, pre-menopause, or even just your personal biology), it can be harder to rely on them unless you’re taking a test every day.
Next steps
Okay, you took an at-home test and got your results back...now what? Well, you might not like our answer, but here it is: you should probably still go see a fertility doctor. Yes, even if your results are “normal.” Why?
Because, like we told you upfront, a test you do at home gives you important data — but not the expertise and counsel of a doctor who has met you in person and knows your medical history. You’ll have the info, just not necessarily the context...and the context is super important when it comes to your fertility. At-home tests simply can’t paint the same kind of comprehensive picture that doctor-interpreted lab tests can.
But you’re here because you want to take an at-home fertility test...and TBH, we kinda don’t blame you! We’re curious, too! Just make sure you know what you’re buying, (Dr. Knopman says that you should make sure any OTC test you buy comes from a legit manufacturer with a fertility doctor on their medical review board), what the tests can tell you, and what you’re going to do with the results.
“Even if you don’t want to do fertility treatments [right now], there is no harm in coming in to talk to us about it,” says Dr. Knopman. “You can make better decisions when you have that information than when you don’t…[and] the worst thing to do is sit at home and ruminate, trying to interpret your own results or diagnose yourself.”
What’s the takeaway here? After taking an at-home fertility test, you might want to plan to make an appointment with a fertility specialist. It can be a simple introductory or informational appointment, and even a virtual one. But hopefully, it will give you peace of mind and — most importantly — answers.
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What Medical Schools Offer Egg Freezing for Students and Faculty?
In this article, we’ll share an overview of egg freezing and the costs involved, why egg freezing is especially important to consider as a female in medicine, and what kind of egg freezing benefits universities may offer medical students and faculty.
Maybe you already know the ins and outs of egg freezing, or maybe not — but (especially if you’re a med student), the question remains: how can you afford it? Or, better yet, could your school possibly even offer egg freezing as an insurance benefit?
The answer? It depends, and it may differ whether you’re a student or faculty member. In this article, we’ll share an overview of egg freezing and the costs involved, why egg freezing is especially important to consider as a female in medicine, and what kind of egg freezing benefits universities may offer medical students and faculty.
Why you should care about egg freezing
First things first: what even is egg freezing, and why should we talk about it? Egg freezing is a procedure where your eggs are extracted, frozen, and stored for later use. While you may not end up needing them, if you do end up facing fertility challenges or decide to pursue donor sperm to grow your family, you can thaw your previously frozen eggs and fertilize them with sperm. This will, hopefully, lead to those eggs becoming embryos that can then be transferred to your uterus and ideally, result in a pregnancy.
Data tells us that the younger eggs are, the healthier and higher quality they are. Our egg quantity also declines with age, so if you’re going to freeze your eggs, freezing at an earlier age is ideal and increases the likelihood of conceiving a biological child in the future.
Female physicians face infertility at a higher rate
We hate to report this, but a recent study indicated that roughly 25% of female doctors trying to conceive face fertility challenges — just about double the rate of the general public. The rate of pregnancy loss among female surgeons is equally concerning; at 42%, this compares to the rate among the general public of 1 in 4 pregnancies ending in some sort of loss.
“Roughly 25% of female doctors trying to conceive face fertility challenges — just about double the rate of the general public.”
There are many factors that contribute to these statistics. For starters, female physicians are more likely to delay family building due to pursuing their medical education and residency. Depending on the specialty, many doctors will be well into their 30s before beginning to try for their first child. And, as previously explained, age can impact egg quality and quantity down the line. Combine this with the strain caused by the grueling lifestyle of residency, and the impact of a medical track upon a female physician’s fertility becomes even clearer.
Egg freezing coverage for med students and faculty
Before jumping into specifics around egg freezing coverage, it’s important to understand the concept of university healthcare insurance, especially for students.
How university healthcare coverage works
Many higher education institutions offer health insurance plans to their students, either through the university itself or by facilitating access to external plans. These plans typically cover essential medical services, preventive care, and, in some cases, mental health services.
University health insurance plans usually operate on an annual basis. Students are required to enroll in or waive coverage at the beginning of each academic year. The cost of coverage is often included in tuition and fees, and coverage extends throughout the academic year, including breaks. Some plans also cover services rendered off-campus, providing flexibility for students studying abroad or residing off-campus.
However, the extent and details of coverage vary widely among university health insurance plans, and there are even various state-by-state regulations that govern what’s allowed.
Egg freezing coverage for med students
So, if we know that medical professionals are more likely to experience fertility challenges, surely there must be sweeping, extensive egg freezing coverage to help them get ahead of it, right? These individuals are sacrificing their time, their livelihoods, their sleep, and their bank accounts to take care of us — so of course they’re being taken care of too, yes?
For students, unfortunately, the answer is no.
Typically, as part of university healthcare plans, elective procedures (chosen by the patient vs. being deemed “medically necessary”) such as proactive egg freezing are not covered. And, while many university healthcare institutions do have their own in-house fertility clinics with reproductive endocrinologists on staff conducting assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures daily, these services are not subsidized for students.
Non-elective procedures that may be covered, on the other hand, might include things like egg freezing as a result of a cancer diagnosis. Some schools may even include infertility treatment as part of their student healthcare coverage. It’s essential for students to review their specific plan details to understand the scope of coverage and any potential gaps in benefits.
One 2022 study found that only one medical school provides coverage for elective fertility preservation. Unfortunately, however, at the time of writing, we were not able to confirm which school is referenced (if this is your school — we want to hear about it!).
It is worth noting that some private fertility clinics will subsidize costs for med students, residents, or fellows, in recognition of the unique additional hardships that they face when it comes to family building. At the time of writing this, Massachusetts-based Boston IVF, for example, currently offers 25% off one egg freezing cycle plus 15% off medication through VFP Pharmacy Group for those individuals. With many locations nationwide, Shady Grove also offers a discount on egg freezing cycles (including monitoring, retrieval, and freezing) for surgical residents across various specialties. Their site is not clear on the exact discount, but you may contact ResidentEggFreezing@USFertility.com for the most up-to-date information.
Egg freezing coverage for med school faculty
Like many employers, to entice the best and brightest minds, medical universities often tout the benefits that come along with working on staff. This includes healthcare coverage, and those plans may include some degree of fertility and family-building coverage. Johns Hopkins, the University of Maryland, and the University of Michigan (to name a few) all provide faculty with the option of enrolling in their insurance plans that include fertility treatment coverage.
That being said, for egg freezing in particular, even for med school faculty it still has to be deemed “medically necessary” vs. “elective” in order to be covered within these plans. Instead, the healthcare coverage that’s usually provided tends to focus primarily on services for those trying to conceive — hormonal, IUI, or IVF treatment and medication.
How to freeze your eggs more affordably
Given that elective egg freezing coverage — even for med students and faculty — tends to remain an out of pocket expense, you’re probably wondering how to afford the costs. Depending on where you’re located, your clinic, and your medication protocol, average egg freezing cycle costs can range anywhere from $10,000 - $20,000, plus annual storage fees.
That being said, there are various ways to lighten the load of egg freezing costs, including financing, using money from your flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA), crowdfunding, and more.
With Cofertility, though, you may be able to freeze your eggs completely for free if you donate half of the eggs retrieved to another family who can’t conceive through our Split program. This may include LGBTQ+ intended parents, those with infertility, or cancer survivors who want to grow their family.
If you’re interested in learning more about our Split program, take our one-minute quiz to see if you’re eligible and get started.
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What Kind of Families Do You Help When You Donate Your Eggs With Cofertility?
One of the most important aspects of egg donation is having a clear understanding of what happens to your eggs once donated, and what kinds of families you’ll help. Here, we outline several types of families that you may help when you choose to participate in our Split program.
So, you’re considering freezing and donating your eggs with Cofertility. This is exciting! Donating a portion of your eggs to another family who needs them in order to have children is an incredible decision. But it’s certainly not one to be taken lightly, so you’re doing the right thing by researching the process and considering all factors (and perspectives) involved.
One of the most important aspects of egg donation is having a clear understanding of what happens to your eggs once donated, and what kinds of families you’ll help. Here, we outline several types of families that you may help when you choose to participate in our Split program.
How does the Split program work?
Cofertility was founded on the principles of making egg freezing more accessible and empowering, while also helping grow families via egg donation. With our Split program, those who qualify are able to freeze their eggs completely for free (including up to 10 years of frozen egg storage!) when they donate half of the eggs retrieved to another family who can’t conceive. We consider our unique model a win for everyone involved, and a more human approach to egg donation.
Through the Cofertility Split program, once you’ve qualified, signed your program agreement, and undergone initial fertility testing, your profile will become available to match with intended parents on our Family by Co platform. These intended parents will be able to view your profile and hopefully connect with you, your values, and your motivations for donating a portion of your eggs — in which case, they’ll move forward with a match!
What is “egg sharing,” anyway?
Once you have matched with intended parents and undergone some additional screening for clearance purposes and industry guideline compliance, you’ll kick off your egg freezing cycle. Within this cycle, you’ll take 10-14 days of injectable medication that will stimulate your ovaries to mature as many eggs as possible. When the eggs have reached peak maturity, you will undergo a retrieval procedure under light anesthesia where the doctor will use a vaginal ultrasound to remove the eggs.
As part of our egg sharing model, once their eggs are retrieved, our Split members will have half of those eggs immediately frozen and stored for free for up to 10 years (they can be removed from storage any time). The other half of the retrieved eggs will go to the intended parents and can be fertilized with their sperm of choice. If an odd number of mature eggs is retrieved, the additional mature egg will go to the intended parents.
Types of families you help when donating eggs with Cofertility
There are many types of intended parents who require egg donation in order to conceive and grow their families.
LGBTQ+ families
As the world has become more tolerant of diverse sexual identity and orientation, so too has it become more tolerant of the evolution of what a “family” looks like. For LGBTQ+ families, this acceptance has been incredibly meaningful in being able to live and grow their families freely. According to 2021 U.S. Census Bureau data, there are 1.2 million same-sex couple households in the US, and about 15% of these couples have children.
For gay dads in particular, egg donation plays a vital role in providing the ability for them to have biological children. Eggs shared via donation can be fertilized with sperm from one of the intended fathers, with a subsequent pregnancy carried via gestational carrier. Remember, children of gay dads don’t happen by accident; they are the result of lots of effort, motivation, and desire to become fathers. We’re proud to support this growing population of parents.
People struggling with infertility
Did you know that, according to the World Health Organization, 1 in 6 people worldwide face some sort of fertility challenge? With 1 in 4 pregnancies ending in a loss and 12% of women experiencing difficulties becoming pregnant or carrying a child to term, the prevalence of infertility has increased over time.
This not only indicates why the best time to freeze your eggs is now (like, right now), it also provides some context as to how (and why) some people may eventually decide to pursue egg donation. It may provide their only option for conception, or perhaps their timeline doesn’t allow trial-and-error of other fertility treatments and they’d like to save themselves the heartache and financial strain of pursuing other options. These intended parents are always incredibly grateful for help from egg donors in growing their families, because it often comes at the end of a long, winding road that involves lots of disappointment and false starts. Growing their family via egg donation is often filled with lots of hope.
Cancer survivors
Sadly, when a woman undergoes medical treatment as part of a cancer-fighting protocol, this can impact her fertility and family-building options down the line. And unfortunately, only in recent years have fertility preservation options become part of the standard conversation that cancer patients in their fertile years have with their doctors. Even today, this is something many cancer patients with ovaries may need to proactively bring up to protect their options for the future.
As a result, many female cancer patients have undergone treatment that, while lifesaving, has caused various forms of infertility. This may be due to resulting hormonal changes, or damage to eggs, ovaries, or uterus. In cases where these hopeful moms cannot use their own eggs to conceive, they need the help of an egg donor to create embryos that they themselves or a gestational carrier may carry.
Single dads by choice
At Cofertility, we support all types of families — and we pride ourselves on the fact that more than 10% of our intended parents are single men, regardless of sexuality. These intended parents have decided to pursue fatherhood on their own, but will need the help of an egg donor as well as gestational carrier in order to make that happen. To us, any person pursuing the option of taking on sole responsibility for a child is someone who really wants (and deserves) to be a parent. And they’re forever grateful to everyone who can help make that dream come true.
How to get started
If you’d like to move forward with participating in Cofertility’s Split program, where you can freeze your eggs for free when you donate half of the eggs retrieved to another family who can’t conceive, fill out this quick quiz to learn more about your options and see if you qualify. It only takes one minute!
What Happens During Psychological Screening to Become an Egg Donor?
Whether you are someone who is thinking about donating your eggs or someone pursuing donor egg IVF, this article is for you. Dr. Saira Jhutty shares a little more about the rigorous psychological evaluation that takes place for potential egg donors.
As a fertility psychologist with training and education in third-party reproduction and 10+ years of experience screening egg donors, I wanted to share a little more about the rigorous psychological evaluation that takes place for potential egg donors.
Whether you are someone who is thinking about donating your eggs or someone pursuing donor egg IVF, this article is for you. Understanding the process and its importance can ensure a smooth and ethical egg donation process.
What is screening like for a potential egg donor?
Psychological screening of a potential egg donor starts with the initial application. This application digs deep into the donor’s physical, medical, and emotional history. It also digs deep into her first and second degree. The reason we need to look into family history is because certain disorders are heritable and the receiving parties need to know and fully understand a donor's complete medical picture before deciding to move forward with her.
Once a donor matches with a family, she then undergoes a psychological evaluation with a fertility psychologist. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine has set forth guidelines for Psychologists to follow when assessing potential egg donors. These guidelines are a way to ensure informed consent, to ascertain that she does not have any psychological contraindications to donating, and that she will be able to be committed and fulfill her responsibilities for the cycle.
The evaluation is an interview which will review many of the things found in the application but will delve deeper. For example, the interview will include, but is not limited to, conversations about family, work, education, medical, and psychological history. Potential emotional and social risks, understanding disclosed vs. undisclosed relationships will also be discussed. The evaluation will also include a standardized, empirically-validated test designed for the assessment and/or screening of mental and behavioral disorders. Typically, these are conducted on the same day and can be done in-persons or through a telehealth consultation.
Why would someone fail a psychological screening?
Unfortunately, not everyone is suitable for egg donation, and a psychological evaluation can make this apparent. When someone does not clear psychological screening, it can lead to disappointment for the family and woman alike.
But, psychological screening of an egg donor comes down to ethical responsibility. We need to ensure the donor’s psychological stability, informed consent, and emotional readiness which includes her understanding of the short and long term consequences of the donation process.
Further, as a clinician my job does not only include the potential donor and her well-being. It also includes the recipient family, which also includes the future human(s) that will result from the donation. This donation isn’t just a one and done type of deal. So psychological screening is not just a formality, it is a necessity.
What if I’ve donated my eggs before? Do I have to go through psychological screening again?
Things change. Life happens. Who you were and what you were doing during a previous donation cycle may no longer be the same. So just because you have successfully donated before does not always mean that you will be eligible to donate again. If you are wanting to donate again, I want to know why you want to do this again? I want to know what has changed since your last donation. You will once again complete a full clinical interview along with the standardized assessment. For donors who undergo additional cycles, ASRM recommends that a new full evaluation be conducted if more than 24 months have elapsed since the previous evaluation.
Summing it up
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has clear guidelines for who is and is not eligible to donate. These guidelines are there to protect everyone involved. Remember, you are creating an entire new branch of a family tree using your DNA. So it is important that no stone is left unturned. As a therapist, our job is to ensure informed consent (meaning, prospective donors fully understand the process); that the assessment is fair regardless of race, gender, or socio-economic status; and to protect personal and sensitive information as we will be asking for a lot of personal information.
A psychologically prepared donor is essential for successful egg donation. So it is important to do your research. Understand the process and ask a lot of questions.
Egg donation with Cofertility
At Cofertility, we are striving to be the best place to be an egg donor (or what we call, a Split Member). We offer a supportive and transparent process that empowers donors to make informed decisions about their egg donation journey.
With our innovative approach, donors get to keep half of the eggs retrieved, plus:
- Free storage of their own eggs in cryopreservation for up to 10 years
- Coverage of all medical costs for the egg donation process
- Connection to the Cofertility community for support all along the way and after too
- The ability to work with the intended parents to decide together what your relationship will look like
If giving your eggs to intended parents sounds like something you would like to do, you may be able to qualify for the free egg freezing process and have your donation process covered too.
Find out more about Cofertility, and take our quiz to see if you qualify for Split!
We believe that every donor deserves to have a positive and empowering experience, and we are committed to making that a reality. That’s why Cofertility was named one of the Best Egg Donor Programs by Egg Donor Connect.
Advocating For Yourself During Your Egg Freezing Journey
When it comes to your body, you are your own best spokesperson. Here are some tips for advocating for yourself during the egg freezing journey.
Freezing your eggs (as part of our Split program, or otherwise) is likely one of the most complex medical procedures you have gone through. At Cofertility, you’ll have one of our Member Advocates to support you through this process. But you’ll want to become your own advocate too. After all, when it comes to your body, you are your own best spokesperson.
Here are some tips for advocating for yourself during the egg freezing journey:
Establish a dialogue rather than a monologue
Healthcare should be a dialogue. If you don't understand a term or procedure, ask for clarification. If you’re uncertain about how to administer a medication, ask for a demonstration or tutorial. Research shows that effective communication between healthcare providers and patients significantly improves health outcomes.
Take notes and reflect
A considerable amount of information will be shared during your appointments. Taking notes helps you digest this information later, allowing you to make well-informed decisions. It is especially helpful to write down key takeaways from your meeting with your doctor after your AFC ultrasound and AMH blood test, the doctor will give you signal on the protocol they want to follow for you. It can also empower you to hold more meaningful follow-up discussions with your healthcare provider.
Personalize your journey
Each person's egg freezing experience is unique. Don’t hesitate to ask how the general advice you’re receiving applies specifically to you. Contextualizing generic medical advice ensures that your individual needs and conditions are being considered.
Over communicate
Ensure that every healthcare professional you interact with during your egg freezing journey is aware of your goals and treatment plan. Remind them of your preferences, previous monitoring results and any specific concerns you may have. Any time you are interacting with a new person on your care team, remind them of the plan and protocol you have already discussed with the doctor. One the day of your procedure, make sure the embryologist’s team confirms your plan.
Share any updates from the clinic with your Member Advocate so that the Cofertility team can follow your progress closely. Many clinics use an app or portal to communicate directly with just you so it helps to give as much visibility to your Member Advocate as you’re are comfortable with for us to help you with this process.
Seek out community
Medical journeys can be daunting solo endeavors. Seeking community support and shared experiences can not only be emotionally uplifting but also practically insightful. When you freeze your eggs with Cofertility, you get access to our online community of women freezing their eggs at the same time.
Be persistent
Never settle for incomplete information. If you feel something has not been adequately explained, press for more details. Your healthcare provider should be willing to take the time to make sure you fully understand your own medical trajectory. Request a thorough explanation of your fertility testing results, including hormone levels, ovarian reserve, and any potential concerns. Ensure you fully understand what the numbers mean and how they relate to your fertility potential.
Advocating for yourself does not mean challenging the medical establishment but rather engaging with it as an informed and empowered partner. The onus is not solely on the fertility doctor to chart the course of your care; it is a collaborative journey. Equip yourself with the right questions and an assertive mindset as you prepare.
Questions to ask at each stage of egg freezing
You’ll want to be prepared to have savvy, informed dialogues with your egg freezing clinical team. We’ve got you covered! Below are questions you can use to prepare yourself for these important appointments.
The preliminaries: medical background and likely outcomes
It all starts with a comprehensive assessment of your reproductive health. At some point in your journey, you will undergo a fertility assessment including hormone tests (specifically an Anti-Müllerian Hormone, or AMH, test) and an antral follicle count (AFC). These will offer insights into your ovarian reserve.
Questions to ask when you get these results:
- Based on my test results, my age, and my medical history, how many eggs do you expect to retrieve?
- Could any of my pre-existing health conditions affect the procedure? It's important to discuss how conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis might affect the process.
- How many cycles would you suggest I undergo?
- How many follicles do you see? (ask this during your ultrasound)
Read more about questions you should ask at your first egg freezing consultation.
The logistics: planning the procedure
Once you’ve decided to move forward with freezing your eggs, you’ll want to understand more of the logistical details. Your Cofertility advocate will help you navigate your journey, including coordinating timeline and long-term storage of your eggs.
Questions at this stage may include:
- What is the timeline? Understanding the timeframe—from hormonal injections to egg retrieval—helps you plan life around the procedure.
- In case of questions or emergencies, what is the best way to get in contact with my care team or physician?
- How many times should I expect to come to the clinic for ultrasounds or bloodwork?
- Can I see where the egg retrievals take place? This is usually a quick, outpatient procedure, but it’s important to know what to expect.
- Where and how are my eggs stored? Your eggs will likely be frozen using vitrification, but it’s good to understand the storage facility's safety measures.
- Ask your clinic if they have written documentation or can show you your treatment plan at the start of your cycle and prior to your retrieval
- Ask them to confirm your medication dose
- Ask them to confirm your lab plan and confirm it is noted as a Split Cycle where you are keeping half of the eggs retrieved
The process: hormones, retrieval, and storage
There are a lot of nuances to egg freezing, and each patient gets a personalized medication regimen based on how the fertility doctor thinks the ovaries will respond.
- What medication protocol are you thinking of for me? The hormone injection phase usually lasts about 10 to 12 days, but the type and amounts of hormones will be personalized to you.
- Will you take me off, or put me on birth control before the cycle starts?
- Do I need to stop any of my medications? If so, when and for how long?
- Do you suggest that I start (or stop) any supplements?
- What other lifestyle modifications should I consider making?
- Ask your nurse to send you a list of do’s and don’ts post procedure
- What average size have my follicles grown to? Is that the size you would expect at this day of my cycle? (It helps to ask your doctor this after your ultrasounds, especially day 5+ so that you can track a key signal your doctor is monitoring to determine the timing of your trigger shot, which determines the day of your retrieval. Overall, follicles of 16–22 mm on the day of retrieval are more likely to contain mature eggs than smaller follicles).
Partner with your Cofertility Member Advocate
You interact with a lot of people on the course of your egg freezing journey, but you are the only person who is in every single conversation. It is incredibly worthwhile, but it can be a lot to track - that is why your Cofertility Member Advocate plays the role of big sister and project manager to:
- Keep you informed on the process through articles, events, and 1-1 connections
- Share evidence-based research and trustworthy guidance so you can make informed decisions about your fertility
- Liaise between your clinic and other other third parties (e.g., genetic counselors)
- Provide weekly status updates on your journey to keep you informed about progress and potential hurdles
- Schedule your travel (if necessary)
We are your advocates throughout this process and will work with you every step of the way.
Final thoughts
As you set forth on your egg freezing journey, the questions outlined in this article can serve as your navigational tools—tools that can help you make educated decisions that are unique to your circumstances and aspirations. As mentioned, your fertility doctor (and if you work with Cofertility, your Member Advocate) are invaluable resources committed to your care, but it's vital to remember that you, too, are an essential part of the team. Your body, your eggs, your future—they are landscapes that only you can fully understand and appreciate.
So prepare to engage in those savvy, informed dialogues with your clinical team. Come armed with your inquiries, your curiosities, and your legitimate concerns. Consider this not just a journey to freeze your eggs, but also an odyssey that crystallizes your autonomy, amplifies your voice, and quite possibly, defines your future. Take those steps with the kind of assurance that only comes from being well-prepared and well-informed. After all, knowledge isn't just power—it's empowerment. And in the delicate, often uncharted territories of reproductive health, empowerment is your true North Star.
Read more:
What’s the Deal with Acupuncture and Egg Freezing?
Can acupuncture really help improve egg freezing outcomes? Let’s find out.
If you’re considering freezing your eggs, you’re probably open to trying just about anything to make your cycle as successful as possible. You’re doing all the things: taking supplements, eating a healthy diet, and being mindful of your lifestyle choices. When it comes to acupuncture, though, you may have heard mixed advice. Can acupuncture really help improve egg freezing outcomes? Let’s find out.
What exactly is acupuncture, anyway?
Acupuncture is a medical treatment based on the disciplines of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It’s built on the theory that there are channels that flow through the body, kind of like the circulatory system.
When someone goes in for an acupuncture treatment, the practitioner inserts teeny-tiny, stainless steel, disposable needles into the patient’s body at specific points along those channels (typically between eight and twelve points, but sometimes up to twenty). Different points are used depending on any symptoms you might be experiencing — back aches, anxiety, acid reflux...you name it! — and practitioners view the body as totally interconnected. It is considered to be generally painless.
What does acupuncture (supposedly) do?
The goal of acupuncture is to regulate each of your systems to get them to work optimally and in harmony with each other. For example, a 2002 Fertility and Sterility study published by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) indicated that receiving regular acupuncture treatments can regulate patients’ endocrine systems (where sex, mood, and sleep hormones are manufactured).
Regulating your endocrine system via acupuncture can dial down your stress response, which may be heightened during an egg freezing cycle. But the question remains, will decreased stress translate to improvement in actual egg freezing cycle outcomes, in terms of quantity and quality of eggs?
Egg freezing and acupuncture: what the data says
Remember: beta endorphin levels regulate and balance a woman’s Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) levels, which do impact the ability of her ovaries to grow and mature eggs. So when we see a 1998 Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine study demonstrate dramatically increased beta endorphins among those who received acupuncture vs. those who hadn’t, that’s worth noting.
But by and large, when it comes to acupuncture and egg freezing, there’s a lot of misinformation out there. The vast majority of available studies focus primarily on IVF success measures: embryo fertilization, positive pregnancy results, and live births. While embryo fertilization is the primary indicator of egg quality, (though many other factors also contribute to fertilization), only looking at acupuncture’s relationship with IVF outcomes can be problematic, because we are viewing a limited population who already may have fertility challenges.
Some studies have explored the potential influence of acupuncture on the number of eggs retrieved during ovarian stimulation, the egg freezing phase during which a patient takes injectable hormone medications to stimulate her ovaries to mature more eggs for retrieval and freezing. This is helpful for us to explore, but it’s important to note if those studies are only looking at a population who needs to undergo IVF to conceive, as this is different from the population of those looking to electively freeze their eggs.
All of this being said, there is some data out there that’s worth investigating.
Stress and fertility
In some cases, we may be able to triangulate studies about acupuncture’s impact upon stress and anxiety with studies about the impact of stress upon egg retrieval outcomes. But we need to acknowledge that these are assumptions and hypotheses, taking a transitive property into account rather than studying the direct impact of acupuncture upon egg retrieval outcomes.
Even then, when only looking at the impact of stress upon fertility and egg retrieval outcomes (largely related to egg quantity), the data is mixed:
- A 2011 British Medical Journal study noted that “pretreatment emotional distress was NOT associated with treatment outcome” (in this case, it’s important to consider that “outcome” = successful pregnancy and live birth using eggs from that treatment cycle).
- A 2009 Psychological Reports article showed a significant correlation between depression and number of eggs retrieved, with fewer eggs retrieved associated with higher instances of depression.
- A 2001 Fertility and Sterility article stated that “baseline (acute and chronic) stress affected biologic endpoints (i.e., number of oocytes retrieved and fertilized).”
- A 2015 General and Comparative Endocrinology study concluded that increased cortisol levels may cause anovulation in stressed mice.
- A 2016 Journal of Biomedical Science study showed that increased cortisol and oxidative stress levels affect our granulosa cell functions, possibly by inducing apoptosis — which results in changes to our estradiol hormones and egg growth, development, and quality.
Some more direct evidence
While there is lots of (mixed) data out there about the relationship between stress and fertility, and some data about how acupuncture reduces stress, there are a handful of studies that actually look directly at the correlation between acupuncture treatments, number of eggs retrieved, and potential egg quality conclusions based on fertilization and live birth outcomes. It’s important to remember that quantity does not necessarily translate directly to quality. Meaning, there is a chance you could have many eggs and very few (or even zero) could result in a fertilized embryo or pregnancy. The general principle is, the more eggs you retrieve, the greater chances you’ll have of having enough high quality eggs for future use.
One of the more applicable studies is a 2023 Frontiers in Endocrinology meta-analysis, which looked at seven clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that ultimately included 516 women. Although the quality of those studies may have been questionable, this meta-analysis showed that the use of acupuncture increased the number of eggs retrieved and the antral follicle count, while improving the patients’ estradiol and FSH levels. However, there was no difference in fertilization rate or pregnancy rate. This analysis suggests that acupuncture does not improve the ultimate outcome most egg freezers care about: chances of a healthy baby down the line.
On the flip side, a 2006 Fertility and Sterility study of 273 women in Denmark showed no statistical difference in the number of eggs retrieved between those who received acupuncture and those who did not. For what it’s worth, this study did, however, show a substantial improvement in pregnancy and live birth rates among those who received acupuncture on the day of their embryo transfer.
What to expect at your acupuncture appointment
If you’ve decided to move forward with acupuncture, you’ll first need to find a local practitioner. At your first treatment, your acupuncturist will ask you tons of questions about your medical history, just like any Western doctor would. Then they’ll take your pulse and look at your tongue (seriously).
Here’s what they’re looking for: patterns of disharmony, which may be missed by your regular doctor because they don’t show up as illnesses. Let’s say you have trouble sleeping and you feel anxious and your skin is dry and your hair is falling out. In Chinese medicine, that grouping of symptoms together indicates a “blood deficiency.” It wouldn’t be severe enough for your main doctor to call it anemia, but there may be enough symptoms to show some imbalance is going on in your body. With that information, your acupuncturist can determine where to insert the needles to best address your individual needs.
When it’s time for your treatment, you may be asked to undress and put on a gown or cover yourself with a sheet and lay down or face up on a table, like you’re getting ready for a facial. The practitioner will then reenter the room and begin “tapping” the needles into the points they’ve selected specifically for your needs.
The insertion of the needles doesn’t usually hurt — maybe just a pinch — but it shouldn’t stay painful because the needles are as fine as a strand of hair. If you’re not comfortable, just let your practitioner know and he/she will make an adjustment. Comfort is key. Once all the needles are in, the acupuncturist will leave the room (ideally turning on some music or relaxing white noise) and you’ll rest there on the table for about 30 minutes. You may fall asleep right away, or you may need a couple of sessions to get used to it.
To experience the full desired effects of acupuncture, some practitioners say it could take about 3 months of weekly treatments. Think of it this way: it takes about 100 days for red blood cells or sperm to mature, so according to acupuncturists, if you want acupuncture to make changes in your body’s functioning, you’ll want to give it the time it naturally needs. At the very least, you should leave your treatment feeling like you just got a really good night’s rest.
The TLDR on acupuncture and egg freezing
There’s so much more research to be done regarding the relationship between acupuncture and egg freezing outcomes. But, based on the scouring we’ve done through existing studies, there does not appear to be evidence that acupuncture could directly help your egg freezing experience. Acupuncture cannot influence structural issues, like fallopian tube blockages, for example.
But while it may not help you retrieve more eggs or increase your chances of pregnancy down the line, it may be something you want to do purely for relaxation. You can think about it like a massage or day at the spa.
With that in mind, the only nuisances may be appointment scheduling or dealing with insurance to see what’s covered. But, beyond that — the goal of acupuncture is to make your mind and body feel good. So, if you have the time and willingness to pay, we support that! In my case, I’m incredibly lucky; my insurance covers unlimited acupuncture visits throughout the year, including for pain or anxiety (note: I do not believe fertility is a billable reason for my acupuncture coverage). If you’re interested in pursuing acupuncture, it is definitely worth having a conversation with your acupuncture clinic and with your insurance provider. But if you can’t squeeze it in or justify the cost…please do not worry about it. You’ve got enough going on as it is.
Remember, when freezing your eggs with Freeze by Co, our team of medical experts (plus our free member community of others freezing their eggs, just like you!) will be with you every step of the way to answer questions like this and more. Our Split program even offers those ages 21-33 the chance to freeze their eggs for free! With a Split cycle, you would donate half of the eggs retrieved to a family that’s trying to conceive and freeze the remaining half for yourself.
If you’re over 34 or not interested in donating half of the eggs retrieved, you can still participate in our Keep program up to age 40. With Keep, you can freeze your eggs and keep them all for yourself, on your timeline while having access to valuable community support.
Regardless of which path you choose, our team is here to guide you through the process to keep your family-building options on the table.