When To Consider Egg Freezing

More and more women are delaying parenthood for many reasons. Whether it’s due to a medical concern, to finish their education, climb the corporate ladder or it’s simply because they are waiting for the right partner, according to a study by the National Center for Health Statistics in 2012, there were more than nine times as many first births to women age 35 and up than there were 40 years ago.

For the overwhelming majority of women, egg quality is most ideal up until age 35. Freezing eggs when the quality is at its best offers the greatest chance of achieving pregnancy through IVF in the future. As per the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), women under 30 have about a 25% chance of getting pregnant. Women over 30 have a 20% chance and from there, it continues to decline.

When you consider how age and fertility go hand in hand, it’s no surprise that according to the Society for Reproductive Technology, 10,936 women froze their eggs in 2017 and the market is projected to grow 25% annually over the next two years, according to Fertility IQ.

Ultimately, you wouldn’t know your fertility health until you get it tested. Whatever age you are while reading this, unless you’ve had a fertility assessment done, you have no way of knowing if your ovarian reserve is healthy or if there is a concern you may want to address sooner rather than later. This is why when it comes to considering egg freezing, there’s no time like the present!

The first step is making an appointment to see Dr. Wilcox to run blood work so he can check your Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), estradiol and Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH). Your FSH will indicate how many follicles/eggs you have in your reserve and your AMH provides insight on the quality.

Then, an ultrasound will be performed to examine the number of follicles on your ovaries. The number of follicles you have directly correlates with the number of eggs you have in your reserve. He will also examine your uterus and fallopian tubes to see if there are any polyps, fibroids, cysts or blockages. This exam, along with a thorough review of any health issues or family history, can provide Dr. Wilcox insight into your reproductive health and whether or not you’re a candidate for egg freezing.

If you choose to proceed with egg freezing, Dr. Wilcox would put together a personalized protocol to freeze your eggs. You can learn more about this process by visiting our, “Egg Freezing Page”.

All in all, when it comes to fertility, your future self with thank you for being proactive instead of reactive. Your best investment in you is to at least learn where your reproductive health lies so you can decide what’s best for family future!