Description
This session will focus on the evolving field of female fertility preservation, highlighting its importance in both medical and elective contexts. It will cover indications such as cancer therapy, autoimmune diseases, delayed childbearing, and other conditions that may impact reproductive potential. Through case discussions, we will explore available options including oocyte and embryo cryopreservation, ovarian tissue freezing, and medical strategies to protect fertility. The session aims to enhance awareness among clinicians about timely referral, counseling, and individualized decision-making for women seeking to preserve their fertility.
Summary Listen
- Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a technique used to preserve a woman's fertility potential for future use. It involves freezing mature oocytes (M2 oocytes) from women in their reproductive years. This technology is primarily offered to females who are still producing mature oocytes, but is not appropriate for prepubescent girls or post-menopausal women.
- The main reasons for egg freezing include delaying the biological clock, specifically for women who want to postpone pregnancy until later in life. Originally, egg freezing was mainly utilized for medical reasons, such as preserving fertility in women undergoing cancer treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy) or those with autoimmune diseases or endometriosis. However, it is increasingly used for social reasons, such as career advancement, financial stability, or not finding a suitable partner.
- The process of egg freezing involves several steps, including proper patient selection and counseling, pre-freezing treatments (such as PRP, DHEA, Melatonin, and Coenzyme Q10) to enhance egg quality, and ovarian stimulation using daily injectables and monitoring to mature oocytes. A final trigger injection is administered to induce maturation before oocyte retrieval.
- Vitrification, a rapid freezing method, has significantly improved the success rates of egg freezing compared to the older slow-freezing technique. This involves rapidly freezing the oocytes using cryoprotectants and storing them in liquid nitrogen at -196 degrees Celsius. AI technology helps monitor and maintain the storage conditions, and in some clinics, AI models assist in selecting the best quality oocytes.
- Success rates of egg freezing are highly dependent on the age of the woman at the time of freezing. Women under 35 have the highest success rates (32-45%), while those over 42 have minimal chances of pregnancy. For optimal success, specific numbers of mature oocytes are required based on age. Potential risks associated with egg freezing include short-term risks like OHSS and oocyte retrieval complications, and long-term risks and psychological impacts, though these are still being studied.
- Egg freezing is increasingly being considered as part of public health programs in some countries and is also offered as part of employee engagement programs by some companies. Financial considerations, including storage costs and later fertility treatments, are crucial for women considering egg freezing. Overall, egg freezing provides a valuable option for women to preserve their fertility and potentially have a biological child later in life.
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