Elective Egg Freezing

Egg freezing is suitable for women who want to preserve their eggs for future use. There could be a variety of reasons why egg freezing is carried out – these may include:

• You wish to delay family planning to prioritise your careers or studies
• You have underlying medical conditions such as cancer or autoimmune disorders. These conditions require treatment that can impact fertility
• You have yet to meet a suitable partner and wish to increase your chances of conceiving in the future when you are ready to start a family

Elective egg freezing is a viable option for women who wish to delay childbearing and combat age- related infertility.

All women have a biological clock. Every woman is born with all the eggs that she will ever have in her lifetime. Egg count as well as the egg quality (whether the eggs are genetically normal in terms of number of chromosome) deteriorate with age. Particularly after 37 years old, fertility begins declining at a rapid rate.

By allowing you to use eggs that were frozen when you were younger and more fertile, elective egg freezing gives you an extra opportunity to go back in time to conceive – with eggs that are more likely to give you a baby.

In Singapore, women between the ages of 21 to 37, regardless of their martial status, are eligible for egg freezing. This age range is considered optimal for maximizing the chances of successful retrieval and future use of frozen eggs.

Women are permitted by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to store their frozen eggs indefinitely, provided they revisit every decade to renew their consent, similar to the process required for frozen embryos in vitro fertilization (IVF).

1. Consultation and Fertility Assessment: The process begins with a consultation with your doctor who assesses your reproductive health through blood tests and ultrasounds
2. Ovarian Stimulation with Medication: To retrieve multiple eggs, the woman undergoes hormonal treatment to stimulate her ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs.
3. Egg Retrieval Procedure: Once the eggs reach maturity, they are retrieved through a minor surgical procedure performed under sedation.
4. Egg Freezing and Storage: The retrieved eggs are then frozen using a technique called vitrification, which ensures they are preserved in a stable state until they are needed in the future.

Timeline of Egg Freezing Process

The initial consultation, fertility assessment and counselling takes about 1 – 2 weeks. Ovarian stimulation is ideally started during the first few days of the menstrual period but can be initiated at any time in the menstrual cycle if needed without compromising outcomes. It usually takes about 10 – 14 days to stimulate the development of multiple mature eggs before the woman is ready to undergo egg retrieval. Generally it takes about 2.5 – 3 weeks from the start of ovarian stimulation injections to the egg retrieval stage. Recovery from the egg retrieval procedure is usually quite rapid; you would be advised to rest for 1 – 2 days after the procedure before returning to work.

Storage of Eggs

Eggs can be stored indefinitely through cryopreservation. Once the eggs are frozen, they are frozen in time. Time is not a factor if the retrieval and freezing are done properly.

Success Rate of Egg Freezing?

The success rate of egg freezing is very much dependant on the number of eggs and quality of the eggs frozen. These two factors are highly dependent on the age of the woman. For women up to the age of 37, you will generally need to freeze about 10 – 15 eggs in order to have a 50 – 70% chance of a live birth. Research indicates a 90% survival rate for thawed eggs, with a 50 – 70% fertilization rate.

When selecting a fertility clinic for egg freezing in Singapore, consider the following:

• Accreditation and Experience: Look for clinics accredited by relevant authorities and with experience in egg freezing procedures.
• Doctor Qualifications and Success Rates: Check the qualifications and track record of the fertility specialists at the clinic.
• Cost Transparency: Ensure the clinic provides clear information on all costs associated with egg freezing, including consultation, procedures, and storage.

Egg freezing can empower you to plan for your family on your terms without worrying about time. It is important, however, to speak to a professional for an accurate assessment of your fertility status. At CareIVF, we provide advice and treatment plans that are customised to your health needs.

Make an appointment with our fertility specialists, or visit our fertility centre, CARE IVF to start planning your journey today. Care IVF provides a wide range of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) treatments including elective egg-freezing.

Dr Serene Lim

Dr. Serene Lim is a distinguished Obstetrics and Gynecology specialist with many years of experience. Renowned for her expertise in reproductive health and IVF in Singapore, she has become a leading figure in the country’s fertility landscape, offering comprehensive treatments including ovulation induction, artificial insemination, in-vitro fertilisation, embryo and egg freezing, ovarian tissue freezing as well reproductive surgery.