Is Egg Freezing in Your 20s Worth It? Pros, Cons, and Success Rates

What is Egg Freezing and How Does it Work?

Egg freezing is considered one of the most effective and reliable fertility preservation methods. Women who want to postpone their pregnancy without compromising their chances of having a biological child mostly get their eggs frozen.

Fertility in women naturally declines with age, especially after the age of 35; the number and quality of the eggs start to deteriorate. Freezing eggs at a younger age (in the 20s) allows women to preserve healthier eggs before their decline phase starts. These eggs remain safely stored until needed, while maintaining the quality they had when frozen.

How Does Egg Freezing Work?

Freezing an egg is a multistep but short, safe, and effective process. It's the same as the In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) process; the only difference is that after egg retrieval, they are stored instead of being fertilised.

Egg freezing is completed within two to three weeks and involves only three major steps:

• Ovarian Stimulation

Women are provided with fertility medications like hormonal injections for ten to twelve days to encourage the ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs instead of just one. During this phase, the fertility expert monitors the patient with ultrasound scans and hormonal tests to ensure safety and optimal egg development.

• Egg Retrieval

After the eggs become mature enough, they are collected through a small and painless process under light anaesthesia. With the help of ultrasound guidance, a fine needle is used for retrieving eggs from the ovaries. This process can take fifteen to thirty minutes, and does not require hospitalisation.

• Freezing and Storage

Once the eggs are retrieved, they are frozen. This is done through vitrification, an advanced freezing technique that prevents crystal formation and preserves egg quality. After this, the eggs are stored safely within specialised cryogenic storage tanks at extremely low temperatures. They are then used at the time of IVF.

Why Are More Women Freezing Their Eggs in Their 20s?

People today are aware of the biological clock and fertility preservation techniques. This allows them to take control of their fertility proactively by freezing their eggs.

• Single women prefer to freeze their eggs until they find a good life partner.
• Married women freeze their eggs to delay motherhood.
• Retrieving eggs in the 20s is much easier than later. This is because they generally have a higher ovarian reserve and better egg quality.
• Some women may even have a family history of early menopause.
• Cancer and other underlying conditions may also contribute to the cause of freezing eggs in the 20s.
• Freezing eggs also allows women to pursue their ambitions while reassuring them about future pregnancy.

Who Should Consider Egg Freezing?

Egg freezing is one of the most practical preservation options available for women who want to keep the option of having a biological child in future. In this process, eggs are collected and stored at a younger age and used later when pregnancy is delayed, or fertility starts to decline.

Egg preservation is often a personal choice based on factors like age, overall reproductive health, medical history, and future family planning goals.

• Women who want to postpone motherhood due to career growth, higher education, travel, or other personal life plans.
• Women who are currently single, but want to preserve their opportunity of having biological children in future.
• Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgeries that might affect their ovarian function.
• Women dealing with endometriosis, particularly in moderate to advanced cases, when the condition or its treatment can affect their egg quality or ovarian reserve.
• Women with autoimmune disorders in which medications or treatment can damage their ovarian tissue or fertility.
• People getting ready for gender-affirming treatments, like hormone therapy or surgeries, which might permanently affect their reproductive capability.
• Women with a family history of early menopause or inherited conditions related to premature ovarian insufficiency, which increases the chances of losing fertility at a younger age.
• Women preparing for ovarian surgery like the removal of ovarian cysts or endometriomas, where the procedure might reduce the number of healthy eggs.
• Women diagnosed with a low ovarian reserve after fertility testing; they can benefit from preserving available eggs before their ovarian function declines any further.

Before going for an egg freezing procedure, women should consider consulting fertility experts to determine whether the procedure is suitable for them.

Is Your 20s the Best Time to Freeze Your Eggs?

A woman is born with approximately 1-2 million eggs, and by the time she hits puberty, the number drops to 300,000. After each cycle, this number continues to decline. One important factor most people don’t realise is that, along with the number of eggs, the quality also declines.

As they reach their 30s, the quality and quantity both gradually decrease, making conception a bit challenging for some. Hence, it is best for those in their 20s, who may want to delay pregnancy, to consider egg freezing. Egg freezing at a younger age can preserve eggs with better quality and potentially improve future fertility options.

Note: Egg freezing is not for everyone, and the decision should depend on an individual’s reproductive plans and circumstances. Also, it is advised to talk to a doctor before opting for egg freezing.

Pros of Egg Freezing in Your 20s

Here are 5 major pros of freezing your eggs in your 20s -

• Higher Egg Quality: For women, the biological clock starts to tick after they hit puberty. Egg freezing in the 20s has a higher success rate of fertilisation.
• Maximise IVF Success: Eggs are healthier in the 20s. So, freezing the eggs at an early age might increase the chance of a successful and healthy pregnancy.
• Reduces Pressure: Freezing eggs at an early age allows women to focus on career and personal goals, while ensuring pregnancy in the future.
• Protects Fertility During Medical Treatments: For someone suffering from cancer or undergoing treatment that can lead to infertility and other pregnancy challenges, freezing eggs can keep their hope of parenthood alive. 
• Provides Peace of Mind: As women age, particularly after the age of 35, their fertility naturally starts to decline, and it becomes difficult to conceive due to deterioration in quantity and quality of their eggs. Freezing eggs at a younger age gives peace of mind by preserving healthier eggs and providing an option for future family planning.

Things to Consider Before Freezing Your Eggs

Before freezing the eggs, here are 6 important factors every person should consider -

1. The Process Is Invasive

The entire procedure is lengthy and includes several steps. The first 10-14 days might be difficult for some, as the doctor prescribes hormonal shots to stimulate the ovarian follicles. This helps produce more mature eggs during the menstrual cycle. On the day of egg retrieval, the doctor inserts a fine needle using ultrasound to retrieve the eggs.

2. Does Not Guarantee Pregnancy

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) says that freezing eggs early does not guarantee a successful pregnancy in the future. This is because it has a 2-12% success rate.

The success actually depends on several factors, such as -

• The age of the woman
• Quality of the egg
• Quantity of the eggs
• Motility rate of the partner’s sperm
• Egg thawing process and viable eggs

3. Cost of Egg Freezing

Fertility treatment can be costly, depending on the location and type of clinic. In India, the cost of egg freezing may range from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 100,000. (This is just a range; accurate prices should always be confirmed with the concerned clinic). In addition, certain recurring annual costs may vary.

4. Side Effects

Though the procedure is quite safe and does not have any major side effects, some women may experience mild cramping and pain. The hormonal injections might cause the ovaries to swell or bloat as they expand to make space for several follicles at a time. 

Some patients may even suffer from Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome. The symptoms of the condition may include -

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weight gain
• Abdominal pain

5. Might Require Multiple Procedures

Some women may require multiple procedures to retrieve more eggs, so that the future pregnancy can occur without any hindrance. Multiple procedures mean going through the shots, the anxiety, pain, cramps, etc., all over again. 

6. Might Not Work

Chances are that egg freezing might not work. This is especially true in women over 35. Studies also show that the live birth rate is only 20%. 

Success Rates: Does Freezing Eggs in Your 20s Improve Outcomes?

As per research, the outcome mainly depends on two critical factors -

• The woman’s age at the time of freezing the eggs
• The number of eggs she has frozen

These factors determine the success of pregnancy in the future. When a woman reaches her late 20s, egg quality is at its peak. At this age, the stimulation response is quite excellent, and women produce 12-18 mature eggs per cycle. This increases the chance of getting pregnant at the desired time.

Note: Getting an IVF with one’s own frozen eggs after 35 may not guarantee a successful pregnancy. This is because the thawing process and the person's health are also taken into consideration.

When Might Egg Freezing Not be Necessary?

Before one considers freezing their eggs, it is always important to talk to a doctor. They will tell you when it isnot right to freeze the eggs. Here are some common circumstances when egg freezing might not be required -

• If the woman is young with no medical risk factor.
• If a person tries to conceive within 1-2 years.
• If a person hasn't had a basic fertility evaluation and preconception discussion.
• If a person is not comfortable with IVF.
• If the ovarian reserve is already low, which requires other treatment.

How to Decide if Egg Freezing is Worth it?

Egg freezing can be considered an insurance policy for future fertility.

• Age: Egg freezing can work best if done before 35. This is because the quality and quantity are both at their peak.
• Cost: The cost of an egg retrieval cycle is usually high. Moreover, the person also has to pay annual charges as storage fees.
• Success Odds: There is a chance that the pregnancy might not take place.

It is advised to evaluate the pros & cons and discuss with the healthcare provider to make sure it is worth it.

How Many Eggs Should be Frozen?

Doctors recommend preserving as many mature eggs as possible. This improves the chances of a successful pregnancy in the future. However, the total number of eggs retrieved during a single cycle can differ from person to person.

• Generally, ten to twelve mature eggs are collected in a single egg retrieval process, but this does not guarantee a future pregnancy.
• At the time of thawing, some frozen eggs might not survive, and all surviving eggs might not successfully fertilise.
• Even after being fertilised, some embryos can develop abnormally or stop growing before reaching the stage of suitable transfer.
• Embryos after being transferred into the uterus might not implant successfully.

Due to these natural limitations, experts can recommend undergoing multiple egg retrieval and freezing cycles, especially for women with lower ovarian reserve or those freezing eggs at an older age.

How Long Can Frozen Eggs Remain Viable?

Frozen eggs can remain viable for 10 to 15 years or more if stored under proper conditions. Fertility clinics use vitrification to freeze the eggs.

The process freezes the eggs rapidly and does not allow the formation of any crystals that could possibly damage the egg's structure. It keeps the eggs in a suspended state, which halts the biological ageing cycle throughout the entire duration of their storage.

Research and years of clinical experience have shown that the storage time duration has little or no effect on the quality of properly frozen eggs. Once thawed, the eggs usually maintain their ability to get fertilised and develop into healthy embryos. This is mostly done when the eggs are collected from younger women before freezing.

As long as the eggs remain stored in specialised cryopreservation tanks under a strict temperature-controlled environment, they can preserve their reproductive potential for many years. This provides women with flexibility for future pregnancies.

Conclusion

Egg freezing is a great option for people who have different aspirations and want to have biological children in the future. Many women aspire to achieve big things in life before having a baby; hence, they prefer to freeze their eggs so that they do not lose a chance of having a family. It also removes additional pressure on them.

Egg freezing should be considered with several other factors in mind. It is advised to talk to fertility doctors before opting for this procedure. This is because, though it allows one to get pregnant with one’s own egg, it does not guarantee pregnancy. Also, the cost is way too high, and it may not be possible for everyone to afford it. Some clinics even offer EMI options so that every woman can have a happy family.