Egg Freezing

Freezing your eggs is a way to preserve future reproductive options by collecting and freezing them for potential use later in life. Some people choose egg freezing by choice because they are not yet ready to start a family, while others may need fertility preservation before medical treatment or surgery that could affect ovarian function and reserve. At Genus, we provide personalised, evidence-led fertility preservation with compassionate support throughout every stage of the treatment.

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Egg Freezing

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What is Egg Freezing and How Does it Work?

Egg freezing involves collecting eggs from the ovaries and freezing them for potential future use. Although egg freezing cannot guarantee a future pregnancy, it can help preserve reproductive potential and provide you with greater control over future family planning.

The treatment process is very similar to the early stages of IVF, but instead of fertilising the eggs, mature eggs are frozen and stored using advanced cryopreservation techniques.

At Genus Fertility, we take the time to discuss your individual circumstances, explain what the process involves, and help you make a fully informed decision – without pressure, and at your own pace.

Am I Suitable for Egg Freezing?

People choose egg freezing for many different personal or medical reasons. Egg freezing may be appropriate if:

You are not currently ready to start or expand your family
You wish to preserve reproductive options as fertility naturally declines with age
You have not yet found the right time or circumstances for parenthood
You are about to undergo cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, or medical treatment that may affect natural fertility
You have a gynaecological condition, such as endometriosis, that may impact ovarian reserve or future fertility
You may require ovarian surgery that could affect egg quality or quantity
You are a non-binary or transgender and planning gender-affirming treatment that could affect fertility

The Egg Freezing Process Step by Step

Ovarian stimulation:
The aim of the stimulation phase is to encourage the ovaries to grow multiple follicles containing mature eggs. During this stage, medications are also used to temporarily suppress the body’s natural hormone signals and prevent premature ovulation before egg collection. You will take hormone injections at home for around 9 to 14 days. Throughout treatment, your response is carefully monitored using an internal ultrasound scan every few days as clinically indicated. This allows us to personalise medication doses and accurately time the next stages of treatment.
Trigger injection:
Once the follicles have reached the appropriate stage of development, you will be advised to take a carefully timed “trigger injection”. This injection helps the eggs complete their final stage of maturation prior to collection. The timing of the trigger injection is extremely important, as egg collection is usually performed approximately 34 to 36 hours later. Our team will provide clear instructions regarding the exact timing and administration of the medication.
Egg collection:
Once the follicles have reached an appropriate stage of development, the eggs are collected via a straightforward, minor surgical procedure performed under deep sedation. Using ultrasound guidance, a fine needle is passed through the vaginal wall into the ovaries to collect the fluid from the developed follicles. The procedure takes around 20 to 30 minutes. After collection, the eggs are transferred to our team of embryologists in our state-of-the-art lab, where they are identified, assessed and prepared for fertilisation.
Egg freezing:
Your retrieved eggs are assessed by our embryology team, and mature eggs are frozen the same day by our embryologist using a method called vitrification, an ultra-rapid freezing technique designed to maximise egg survival after thawing. The frozen eggs are then securely stored within a specialised cryopreservation chamber until you’re ready to use them in the future, if needed.

FAQs

How long does an egg freezing cycle take?

One egg freezing cycle usually takes between two and four weeks, depending on the treatment protocol recommended and how your ovaries respond to stimulation medication.

Do I need someone to come with me for my egg collection?

Yes. The egg collection procedure is performed under deep sedation, so you will be treated as a day-case and will not be able to drive or use public transport afterwards. You will need someone to accompany you home and stay with you for a short time following the procedure.

How many eggs are collected for freezing?

The number of eggs collected varies from person to person, with some people retrieving fewer than average and others more.

Age, ovarian reserve, and any underlying conditions, such as PMOS or endometriosis, can influence the number of eggs collected. Some people may achieve their desired number of frozen eggs with one cycle, while others may require more than one treatment cycle.

What are my chances of a successful pregnancy in the future?

Future pregnancy chances depend on several factors, including your age at the time of freezing, the number and quality of the eggs stored, and your overall reproductive health when you decide to use them.

In general, freezing eggs at a younger age is associated with higher success rates. Having more frozen eggs also increases the likelihood of achieving a future pregnancy and live birth. However, success also depends on factors such as age, egg quality, and overall reproductive health, and no specific number of frozen eggs can guarantee a baby.

How can I maximise my chances of a successful egg freezing cycle?

Before treatment, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help optimise fertility and respond to treatment. We generally recommend maintaining a balanced diet, taking recommended supplements, such as folic acid and vitamin D, aiming for a healthy weight, and avoiding smoking, alcohol and excess caffeine.

How long can I freeze my eggs for?

Under current UK legislation, eggs can be stored for up to 55 years, provided consent is renewed at the required regular intervals. We will contact you when consent renewal is due you can decide whether to continue storage.

What happens when I want to use my eggs?

When you are ready to use your frozen eggs, they are thawed and prepared in the embryology laboratory for treatment. Because the outer shell of the egg can become harder with freezing, fertilisation is carried out with Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), where a single sperm is injected directly into each mature egg.

Egg Freezing

Egg Freezing

What is Egg Freezing and How Does it Work?

Am I Suitable for Egg Freezing?

The Egg Freezing Process Step by Step

Ovarian stimulation:

Trigger injection:

Egg collection:

Egg freezing:

FAQs

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