What is Egg Freezing?

Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a method used to preserve a woman’s ability to get pregnant in the future. Eggs harvested from the ovaries are frozen unfertilized and stored for later use.

A frozen egg can be thawed, combined with sperm in a lab, and implanted back to the patient via IVF. Frozen egg transfers are preferable to fresh because they will be from a genetically younger woman. Although the decline in reproductive potential that occurs with age cannot be reversed, freezing your eggs at a younger age may allow the eggs to be preserved until you are ready to conceive.