Egg freezing: preparation, process and what to expect

How can I prepare myself for egg freezing?

There is no strict preparation that is required before starting a cycle of egg freezing. If you are overweight this could affect the absorption of the medication so it is good to maintain as healthy a weight as possible. Smoking is also bad for egg quality, so it is best to quit smoking prior to egg freezing.

There is no specific diet that needs to be followed before or during the process, and you don’t need to stop drinking alcohol completely during treatment, the odd glass of wine will not have any impact on the outcome. You should avoid heavy or binge drinking though.

Once you’re ready to start, the process itself is straightforward and carefully monitored.

How long does it take to freeze my eggs?

You’ll start with daily hormone injections for around two weeks, to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple follicles, each of which may produce an egg. During this time, you’ll also have blood tests and ultrasound scans of your pelvis to monitor the number and size of the follicles.

Then, when one or more follicles reach a certain size, (usually 18mm or more), you’ll have what’s called a trigger injection – this is an injection of hormones to mature the eggs before collection.

The process itself is usually really well tolerated with very minimal side effects, so most patients choose to go about their social and working lives normally. You won’t feel like doing more vigorous exercise in the 2nd week of the stimulation process as the ovaries grow in size, which can be slightly uncomfortable. We will also make sure you feel well enough to leave, and this is quite normal, so we also recommend coming with a chaperone who can help you get home.

Can I freeze my eggs if I have PMOS (formerly known as PCOS)?

Yes, you can. PMOS, or polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, means that you have lots of follicles in your ovaries. This means you usually have a very good ‘egg reserve’ and your response to the stimulation drugs is usually very good, meaning we usually get a good number of eggs per treatment cycle. Therefore, women with PMOS are usually very good candidates for egg freezing.

Other common gynaecological conditions, such as endometriosis, also do not mean that you cannot freeze your eggs.

How late can I leave it before freezing my eggs?

As women get older the more commonly the egg will make a mistake dividing its genetic material, meaning there is an increased likelihood of the egg having the wrong number of chromosomes. This is what we mean by the term ‘egg quality’. This is why it is more difficult for women to get pregnant when they are older, and their miscarriage rate goes up.

Therefore, if you leave it too late, egg freezing may not be the right treatment option for you. A large study investigating female age and egg freezing concluded that women aged 36 and under were most likely to have at least one baby if they used their eggs in the future. However, it can still be a really good option for women in their late 30s.

Data from women treated at Lister Fertility Clinic who have frozen and later used their eggs shows:

• For a woman who froze her eggs under 34 years, she has a 90% chance of having at least one baby.
• If a woman froze her eggs when she was 37 years old and has 20 eggs, this level falls to a 75% chance.
• For a woman aged 42 years when she froze her eggs, she would need to have 64 eggs frozen to have the same 75% chance.

How much does egg freezing cost in the UK?

Egg freezing costs can vary depending on your individual circumstances and the treatments you require. Because our prices are updated regularly, please refer to our latest Price List for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

In our price list, you’ll find detailed breakdowns for:

• Egg freezing cycles
• What’s included in each cycle
• Medication costs (which vary depending on age and egg reserve)
• Package options, including multi-cycle packages
• Annual storage fees

If you’d like help understanding which options might be right for you, our team is always happy to guide you.