Fertility preservation in women involves freezing eggs for later use. Freezing or vitrification is a technique by which oocytes can be stored and preserved without losing their quality or reproductive capacity for future use.

To be able to recover the eggs, it is necessary to undergo ovarian stimulation treatment. This means using medication (injectable hormones) to stimulate the growth of the follicles that contain the egg (oocytes).

The medication must be injected daily for about 10-14 days. During this time, it is important to have ultrasound check ups to see how many follicles are growing in the ovaries and monitor their size. Follicles are the sacs visible by ultrasound that contain the eggs. Each follicle can contain an oocyte or may be empty.

The number of eggs that can be obtained with the treatment will depend on ovarian reserve, the woman’s age, and her response to the treatment.

Generally, you will feel fine. You will be able to continue with your normal daily activities. During the first few days of treatment, you won’t notice much change, but in the days leading up to egg retrieval, you may feel a bit bloated, you might have increased vaginal discharge, breast tenderness, etc. You can continue your daily life, but it is advisable to avoid sexual intercourse and intense physical exercise in the last days of stimulation before the egg retrieval procedure to prevent complications.

Regarding emotional well-being, each patient is different, but in my practice, I often find that women undergoing this process may experience emotional ups and downs due to the doubts and uncertainties that arise. It’s important to find emotional support during these days, whether from family, friends, or a partner to accompany and help you during the days when you may feel a bit more anxious.

Any woman who wishes to plan her fertility can do it, but the results will not be the same for everyone. Ideally, this treatment should be done BEFORE the age of 30, but this happens very rarely. The next best option is BEFORE the age of 35 since the number and quality of the recovered eggs will depend on the AGE of the patient and her OVARIAN RESERVE.

If you’re thinking about freezing your eggs, don’t hesitate to seek information and consult with a professional who can assist you in your case. In the consultation, patients often tell me, ‘If only they had told me earlier…’ when I explain the importance of AGE in fertility preservation.

The treatment usually starts with the onset of your menstrual period. Within the first 3 days, you will need to have a gynecological ultrasound, and if everything is fine, you can start the medication.

The duration of the stimulation treatment is usually about 10-12 days. During these days, ultrasound check ups and, in some cases, blood tests to monitor hormone levels can be required.

You can do up to 6 cycles of ovarian stimulation, but it must be done with medical judgment and evaluation by a specialist.

It is recommended to vitrify between 10-15 eggs. According to the scientific publications available to date, 15 eggs have been established as a sufficient number to achieve pregnancy in the future, provided the egg quality is good. For some patients to vitrify 10-15 eggs, it may be necessary to undergo multiple cycles of ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval.

It is recommended to vitrify as many as possible, within the possibilities of each patient, as not all vitrified eggs will develop correctly into the embryo stage in the future. The implantation potential and pregnancy rate of the embryos generated will depend on the quality of the eggs, which will largely depend on the AGE of the patient.

It is advisable to have a comprehensive blood test to analyze various values and obtain more information before starting treatment. Additionally, a gynecological ultrasound and a gynecological review with a cervical cytology performed within the last year are necessary.

For women over 35, it is recommended to have a breast ultrasound before treatment.

The medication can be purchased at pharmacies with a medical prescription. Many of the injectable medications need to be stored in the fridge.

If you’re considering freezing your eggs, don’t hesitate to seek information and get well-informed before the treatment.