Patient: Dr. Malpani, I’m 33, single, and currently concentrating on my work. I’m not ready yet, but I know I want children someday. Should I freeze eggs now that I’ve read about it? Or hold off? The amount of advice available online is overwhelming me.
Dr. Malpani: That is a crucial question that is frequently asked. And I’m so happy that you’re taking this seriously. Let’s go over everything in detail so you can decide for yourself based on facts rather than fear.
Patient: Excellent. Let’s begin with the fundamentals. Do I really need to freeze my eggs?
Dr. Malpani: For the right patient at the right time, egg freezing is a great choice. It’s not about freezing eggs out of fear. It’s about taking charge of your fertility schedule and expanding your future reproductive options.
Egg freezing was created specifically for patients like you who are young, healthy, and not ready to have a baby just yet.
Patient: Is 33 the appropriate age? Or should I hold off for a few years?
Dr. Malpani: 33 is actually a good age. The quality of your eggs declines with age. After 30, the quantity and quality of eggs begin to decline gradually; after 35, this decline accelerates. Therefore, freezing now increases the likelihood of future success by preserving healthier eggs.
In the short run, waiting might save you money, but you might eventually need more cycles to obtain the same quantity of high-quality eggs. Early is usually better when it comes to fertility.
Patient: It makes sense. How many eggs ought to be frozen? Ten eggs give a good chance, according to what I’ve read.
Dr. Malpani: Your age and your future family objectives will determine the answer to that excellent question. You typically have a good chance of having one child at age 33 if you have 10 to 15 mature eggs. Aim for 20–25 if you’re considering having two kids.
However, keep in mind that not all embryos will implant, not all eggs will fertilise, and not all pregnancies will be successful. We always factor in a safety margin because of this.
Using an antral follicle count and an AMH test, we can determine how many eggs we’ll be able to retrieve , based on your ovarian reserve.
Patient: Do I need to do more than one cycle, or is one sufficient?
Dr. Malpani: How well your ovaries respond will determine this. While some women can harvest 12 to 15 mature eggs in a single cycle, others might require two cycles to achieve that quantity. Until we see the results of your test, we won’t be certain.
However, one cycle is a fantastic beginning. It’s about banking options, not outcomes.
Patient: Is it better to freeze embryos or eggs? What makes a difference?
Dr. Malpani: That’s a good question, and this is where a lot of people get confused.
Egg freezing is the best option if you’re single, don’t have a partner, or don’t want to use donor sperm.
Freezing embryos is more effective if you are married or in a committed relationship and both of you are certain that you want children together. Embryos have marginally higher success rates and are better able to withstand the thawing process.
However, once an embryo is frozen, it legally belongs to both partners, so things could get messy if the relationship ends. For this reason, a lot of unmarried women decide to freeze their eggs in order to preserve their options for the future.
Patient: Should I be aware of any risks?
Dr. Malpani: When an experienced IVF clinic performs the procedure, the medical risks are negligible. Since you’re investing in a possibility rather than a guarantee, the primary concerns are financial and emotional. Nobody can guarantee that eating frozen eggs will result in a child later on.
However, freezing eggs provides a sense of security. It lessens regret in the future. It is a powerful tool, but it is not a guarantee. It is an insurance policy on your fertility.
Patient: How long is it possible for the eggs to remain frozen?
Dr. Malpani: For ten to fifteen years, or even longer, eggs can be safely frozen and kept in storage. The health of the frozen egg has no expiration date because all metabolic activity is suspended when they are frozen at -196 C in liquid nitrogen. Nothing happens to them until you are ready to have a baby. The beauty is that even though you get older with the passage of time, your eggs don’t age !
Patient: What is the treatment plan for egg freezing ?
Dr. Malpani: The treatment protocol is similar to a typical IVF cycle. We help you grow many eggs using hormonal injections, monitor your follicular growth with ultrasound scans, and then retrieve the eggs. These are then frozen using a process called vitrification which ensures a 100% survival rate in a good clinic.
Patient: How do I pick a clinic for this?
Dr. Malpani: Seek experience and transparency. Verify that the clinic provides you with all of your reports, including the quantity and quality of mature eggs that were retrieved and frozen. Good clinics provide you with photos of your eggs.
Some clinics don’t give patients the right advice and promote egg freezing as a business opportunity. Making a decision should never be hurried or intimidating. Instead of putting pressure on you, a good doctor will empower you.
Patient: When I’m prepared to have a baby how will these frozen eggs be used ?
Dr. Malpani: The treatment protocol is similar to a typical frozen-thaw where we prepare your endometrium with estrogen tablets and monitor its growth with ultrasound scans. When the lining is 8 mm and trilaminar, we thaw your eggs, fertilise them with the sperm of your donor or partner of choice, produce embryos, and then transfer one into your uterus. The extra embryos are frozen for future cycles and/or babies !
Naturally, the number of eggs you freeze, their quality, and your general health at the time of transfer all affect the outcome.
Patient: I’m grateful, Dr. Malpani. I was able to think more clearly thanks to this. Now I feel more assured.
Dr. Malpani: You’re very welcome. Every woman should, in my opinion, be equipped with the information and resources necessary to make wise decisions regarding her fertility. It’s your future, your timeline, and your body. Although freezing eggs is a very personal choice, it has significant implications.
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