Yes, freezing ovules, more commonly known as egg freezing or oocyte cryopreservation, is a fertility preservation technique.
Egg freezing allows individuals to preserve their reproductive potential for future use. It involves extracting eggs from the ovaries, freezing them, and storing them for later fertilization.
Why Freeze Eggs?
Several reasons exist for considering egg freezing:
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Medical Treatments: Chemotherapy, radiation, and certain surgeries can damage eggs and reduce fertility. Freezing eggs beforehand can preserve the option of having biological children later.
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Health Conditions: Conditions like severe endometriosis or autoimmune diseases can impact fertility, making egg freezing a proactive choice.
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Age-Related Fertility Decline: Fertility naturally declines with age. Freezing eggs at a younger age can potentially increase the chances of successful conception later in life.
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Gender Affirming Surgery: Individuals undergoing gender affirming surgery may choose to freeze their eggs beforehand to preserve their reproductive options.
The Process of Egg Freezing
- Ovarian Stimulation: Hormones are administered to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs.
- Egg Retrieval: A minor surgical procedure, usually performed under sedation, is used to retrieve the eggs from the ovaries.
- Cryopreservation (Freezing): The retrieved eggs are rapidly cooled and frozen using a process called vitrification.
- Storage: The frozen eggs are stored in liquid nitrogen at extremely low temperatures.
- Thawing and Fertilization: When the individual is ready to use the eggs, they are thawed and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory (in vitro fertilization or IVF).
- Embryo Transfer: The resulting embryo is transferred to the uterus with the goal of achieving pregnancy.
While often referred to as freezing "eggs," the more precise term is "ovules" or "oocytes." Egg freezing provides a valuable option for individuals who want to safeguard their future fertility.
