Description
Age plays a crucial role in a woman’s fertility, as both the number and quality of eggs decline over time. Egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, offers an opportunity to preserve fertility by storing eggs at a younger age for future use. While the ideal time for egg freezing is typically in the late 20s to early 30s, advances in reproductive medicine have made the process accessible for women at different life stages. Understanding the biological clock helps women make informed decisions about their reproductive planning, balancing career, personal goals, and the desire for future motherhood.
Summary Listen
- Egg freezing is a valuable option for women who wish to preserve their fertility due to delayed marriage and childbirth trends. Understanding the biological clock and age-related fertility decline is crucial for patient education. The number of eggs women possess decreases with age, impacting both the quantity and quality of eggs.
- The decline in egg quality with age is attributed to molecular aging, mitochondrial dysfunction, and compromised DNA integrity. Ovarian reserve testing, using Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) and antral follicle count (AFC), helps assess egg quantity. However, these tests do not predict egg quality or the possibility of natural conception.
- Fertility rates gradually decline starting around age 30, with a more pronounced decrease after 35. Miscarriage rates also increase with age. Counseling patients about these declines and available options, such as egg freezing, is essential.
- The evolution of cryopreservation has progressed from slow freezing to modern vitrification. Vitrification offers higher success rates, faster processing, better quality preservation, and is more cost-effective.
- Egg freezing is done for medical reasons, such as cancer survival or premature ovarian failure, and social reasons, such as career orientation or lack of a suitable partner. Initial consultations, testing, and detailed explanations of the egg freezing process are crucial.
- Ovarian stimulation protocols vary based on the patient's age, ovarian reserve, and BMI. Antagonist protocols are commonly used, with FSH or HMG starting doses adjusted based on age and response. Drug selection and adjuvant therapies, such as growth hormone or antioxidants, are also tailored to individual patient needs and age.
- Monitoring during stimulation involves frequent follicular monitoring via ultrasound. Younger patients may require less frequent monitoring, while older patients may need more intensive monitoring and higher doses of hormones.
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About the Speakers
Dr Durga Vytla
Obstetrician, Gynaecologist & Infertility Specialist, Nova IVF Fertility, Hyderabad
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