Does freezing your eggs reduce the amount you have left to use naturally?
Not significantly. Women are born with hundreds of thousands of oocytes (immature eggs ), which naturally decline over time. An egg freezing cycle does not deplete your overall egg reserve in a way that impacts your future fertility. Each month, multiple eggs start to mature, but only one is typically released during ovulation while the others are lost. Egg freezing simply retrieves some of these eggs before they would naturally degrade, meaning the process does not reduce your ability to conceive naturally later on.
How many eggs do I need to freeze?
This varies based on your age and individual fertility. Before starting an egg freezing cycle, your doctor will discuss the best approach for you. Most patients freeze between 10 and 30 eggs, but achieving this number may require more than one cycle. The reason for this is that egg quality naturally declines with age, so younger patients typically need fewer eggs to achieve a successful pregnancy in the future.
What is my chance of falling pregnant?
Your chance of pregnancy depends largely on the age at which you freeze your eggs. The main advantage of egg freezing is that it preserves the pregnancy potential of your eggs at the time they were frozen. Your doctor will help determine the ideal number of eggs to freeze based on your personal fertility goals.
Does it hurt?
The egg freezing process is generally well-tolerated, though some women may experience mild discomfort or bloating. The hormone injections used to stimulate the ovaries can cause bloating and temporary sensitivity. The egg retrieval procedure itself is done under sedation, meaning you won’t feel pain during the process. Some cramping or bloating may occur afterward, but this usually subsides within a few days. Most people are able to return to normal activities quickly after the procedure.
If you're considering egg freezing and want to understand what’s best for your unique situation, talk to the Repromed team by calling 0818 222 404 or email info@repromed.ie.
