Egg freezing and other fertility preservation options.
Fertility preservation is the process of cryopreserving eggs, embryos, sperm, or ovarian tissue
to preserve reproductive potential for future pregnancy planning.
It can be discussed not only before treatments that may affect fertility, such as chemotherapy, radiation, or ovarian surgery,
but also when there are concerns about declining ovarian function or personal reasons to delay pregnancy.
Preserving today's fertility for tomorrow's pregnancy
When the time comes to prepare for pregnancy, we re-evaluate your current health and plan pregnancy using frozen reproductive cells or tissue.
Confirm disease/treatment schedule
and future pregnancy plans
AMH, AFC, or semen analysis
to check current status
Decide on eggs, embryos, sperm,
ovarian tissue, etc.
Freeze and store current
reproductive cells or tissue
Plan pregnancy attempt
after thawing when needed
Confirm disease/treatment schedule
and future pregnancy plans
AMH, AFC, or semen analysis
to check current status
Decide on eggs, embryos, sperm,
ovarian tissue, etc.
Freeze and store current
reproductive cells or tissue
Plan pregnancy attempt
after thawing when needed
Medical necessity and planned preservation require different considerations during consultation.
This applies when the treatment itself, such as cancer treatment or ovarian surgery, may affect future fertility.
It is important to promptly consult with a reproductive medicine specialist within a range that does not delay the main treatment.
This applies when delaying pregnancy for personal reasons, not due to current disease treatment.
Since age at the time of freezing significantly impacts future pregnancy outcomes with eggs and embryos,
decisions are made by considering current age, ovarian function, and future pregnancy plans together.
Both egg and embryo freezing follow a process similar to IVF up to egg retrieval.
When time is limited for medical reasons, ovarian stimulation can be started regardless of the menstrual cycle.
Understanding 'when, how, and what to expect' is more important than preservation itself.
The woman's age at the time of preservation significantly impacts future pregnancy outcomes, especially with eggs and embryos. While age alone doesn't determine everything, it's good to consult to avoid missing the optimal window.
Cryopreservation is a way to prepare options for future pregnancy. Future pregnancy outcomes are influenced by various factors including age, number and condition of stored eggs/embryos, and the post-thaw process.
In medical fertility preservation such as chemotherapy or radiation, treatment of cancer or underlying disease takes priority. Whether preservation is possible and the appropriate method must be determined jointly by the attending physician and reproductive medicine specialist.
Rather than deciding solely by age criteria, we consider current age, ovarian function, and future pregnancy plans together. Since egg fertility potential is generally affected by age, if you're considering planned egg freezing, it's good to check your current status and consult before it's too late.
It's best to consult before starting treatments that may affect fertility, such as chemotherapy or radiation. However, treatment should not be delayed, so the attending physician and reproductive medicine specialist must quickly coordinate treatment schedule and possible preservation methods.
One method is not always better than the other. You can choose between egg freezing or embryo freezing considering partner status, future flexibility, age, treatment schedule, and personal values.
It may be considered in specific medical situations such as before high-risk treatment when there's insufficient time for ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval, or for pre-pubertal patients. Actual application is determined through professional consultation considering age, disease type, ovarian metastasis potential, and treatment schedule.
At Sarang-i, all physicians are experts in IVF procedures
with extensive clinical and research experience.
