The increase in the average childbearing age is attributable to a myriad of factors. The factors can be social, economic, or medical. Regardless of the factor that is delaying your childbearing, science has come to your aid. Egg freezing technologies allow you to align your priorities without worrying about your biological clock. But how long can eggs be frozen? Read on to learn more about egg freezing and how long you can freeze eggs for IVF.
1. What is egg freezing?
Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) involves the retrieval of and storage of a woman's eggs to allow the woman to have more flexibility in when she chooses to embark on her fertility journey. Before retrieval, the production of eggs is accelerated through using fertility drugs. The eggs are then retrieved in a process similar to IVF and stored until you are ready to have a child.
2. What is the best age for egg retrieval?
Although you can retrieve your eggs at any age while you’re still fertile, research shows that retrieving eggs at a younger age improves your chances of having a baby in the future. The best time to have your eggs retrieved and frozen is below the age of 35.
35 is the maximum age for better results. This means that the retrieval of eggs in your twenties could offer better chances.
However, if you are pursuing egg freezing services, you want to delay your childbearing until you are ready, which leads to the question, how long can you freeze eggs for IVF?
3. How long can you freeze eggs for IVF?
Using advanced egg freezing methods available at PFCLA, you can freeze the eggs indefinitely without weakening them. In fact, European countries like the UK have even proposed legislation to increase the storage limit up to 55 years.
In the US, there is no limit on the number of years that eggs can be frozen. Time is therefore not a factor if the retrieval and freezing are done properly.
4. But what are the chances of conception after an egg has been frozen for years?
IVF specialists have successfully fertilized eggs that were frozen for 14 years. Others have successfully created embryos from eggs frozen for 10 years. This conception success for other women is enough proof that the number of years you wait does not affect your chance of achieving a pregnancy with frozen eggs.
5. Who benefits from long-term egg freezing?
Long-term egg freezing benefits women who wish to pursue other priorities before having a child. You can, therefore, have your eggs retrieved at twenty and have your child at 35 or 40.
Long-term freezing also allows you to take your time in search of a sperm donor if that’s what you’re looking for. You do not have to rush in the search for a sperm donor since you are not losing your eggs any time soon.
Egg freezing also benefits women who develop medical conditions that may affect their ability to conceive in the future. Or if for any reason, you undergo a hysterectomy, your surgeon can retrieve your eggs and freeze them until you get a surrogate.
LGBTQ couples can also benefit from egg freezing. The couple can identify the egg donor and have the eggs frozen until they are ready to have the child.
We can help
At PFCLA, we understand there are many reasons why you may want your eggs frozen a bit longer. We also understand that how long you can freeze eggs for IVF has been in your mind for some time.
To help you manage your fertility, we have invested in the most advanced technologies and personnel to help you retrieve and freeze your eggs for as long as you want.
Contact us today for more information on how to start the egg freezing process.
