Egg Freezing Explained: Nowadays, the trend of egg freezing is not limited only to Mumbai-Bangalore or high class, but many working women are giving importance to late pregnancy. The age when education, career and flight of dreams are at their peak is the best age to become a mother, but nowadays egg freezing has given women the freedom to become mothers as per their wish, that is why many girls are using this facility and getting their eggs frozen. The expenditure in this is also not less, a huge amount has to be paid annually. How complicated is this process, how does it happen, how much does it cost? Who can get it done and up to what age? How many times can it be done? Gurugram women are answering 13 burning questions that arise in every woman’s mind regarding egg freezing. Dr. Pallavi Vasal, Clinical Director, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maringo Asia Hospitals….

What is egg freezing?
Egg freezing is a medical procedure, in which healthy eggs are removed from the ovaries of a woman and kept safe outside and then the fertility process of these eggs is done through IVF. These eggs are kept in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -196 degrees.

What is its procedure?
For this, first of all the woman or couple has to meet an infertility expert. Generally, this process is done in IVF clinics only because egg freezing is a procedure for pregnancy through IVF. First of all, all the necessary tests of the woman are done. She is given medicines or injections etc. so that her eggs can be formed properly and the eggs can be completely prepared for freezing. When a woman ovulates, eggs are picked up from her ovaries and taken out and kept safe.

Does this process happen consciously?
No. Egg freezing is done under anesthesia. After giving anesthesia to the woman, the eggs are removed through a needle through the vagina.

Women of what age can freeze eggs?

In India, girls or women between 18 years to 45 years can get permission for egg freezing. However, the best time to freeze eggs is late 20s or early 30s. After the age of 40, the quality of eggs starts deteriorating, hence it is not advisable to freeze eggs at this age, unless it is absolutely necessary.

Does egg freezing affect the menstrual cycle?
To produce more eggs for one freezing, women and girls are given some medicines. In such a situation, it depends on the body how it takes those medicines, due to this the menstrual cycle may fluctuate slightly for one or two months. Although there is no other problem.

How much time does this process take?
This entire process takes a month, because first of all women will meet a fertility expert and then they will have basic tests. Let us look at the criteria of medicine to see which medicine will give better results. Only then the process starts.

Are there any side effects of egg freezing?
Since in this process, the egg is picked up with a needle through the vagina, there is a fear of minor injury during that time, however, if it is done in an unconscious state, then there is no such big risk or side effect.

How many eggs are taken out at a time?
Egg freezing is done only once and during that time an attempt is made to get 10 to 12 mature eggs. All that is saved.

Is fertilization done in all the eggs or in just one?
When eggs and sperm are combined through IVF, the best egg is selected from those 10-12 eggs and is processed along with it.

Then what is done with the remaining eggs?
There are options regarding this. Regarding the remaining eggs, they are asked whether they want to destroy them, donate them or save them for another pregnancy? The decision is taken only on the basis of their answers in view of the prescribed law.

How much does egg freezing cost?
Egg freezing in NCR usually costs Rs 1 lakh per year. At the same time, this expense may increase or decrease slightly in different companies.

What is its success rate? Can this egg cause pregnancy?
During egg freezing, only the best quality eggs are selected. After this the IVF procedure is done. Generally, the better and healthier the egg is, the more likely it is to be fertile and the success rate will also be better.

For how many years can eggs be frozen and their quality maintained?
Often egg freezing is done only for a few years. Because every year they have to pay a good amount for it. Every year they are asked whether they want to save it? However, they can be kept safe for up to 10 years, and under special circumstances can be kept for even more years.

Dr. Pallavi Vasal says, there is a proper law for egg freezing in our country. According to the law, the age and standards for egg freezing are fixed. No one can freeze eggs just like that, he has to give proper reason. There are laws regarding egg donation also, it is not that anyone can donate eggs like other organs. Only those eggs can be donated, which are left during egg freezing and people want to donate them voluntarily. There are strict laws regarding procedures like egg freezing and donation for acquaintances.