As more women consider delaying pregnancy due to career, education, or personal reasons, fertility preservation has become a popular option. One of the most effective ways to safeguard your ability to have children in the future is through egg freezing. This innovative process offers women the chance to pause their biological clock, giving them the flexibility to start a family when the time feels right.
What is Egg Freezing?
Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a process that involves harvesting a woman’s eggs, freezing them, and storing them for future use. This procedure allows women to preserve their eggs during their prime reproductive years so that they can potentially be used at a later date to achieve pregnancy. The process is widely regarded as a form of fertility preservation, especially for women who may not be ready to have children but wish to keep their options open.
Whether you are focused on advancing your career, haven’t found the right partner, or are considering fertility preservation due to medical reasons like cancer treatments, egg freezing provides the flexibility to start a family on your terms.
The Egg Freezing Process
The egg freezing process is similar to in vitro fertilization (IVF) but with a key difference: instead of fertilizing the eggs with sperm, the eggs are frozen and stored for later use. Here’s a breakdown of the steps involved:
1. Initial Consultation and Testing
Your journey begins with an initial consultation with one of our fertility specialists at Fertility Partnership. During this appointment, we’ll discuss your fertility goals, medical history, and determine if egg freezing is right for you. We’ll also perform several tests to assess your ovarian reserve, including hormone tests and an ultrasound to check your ovarian function.
2. Ovarian Stimulation
Once we’ve determined that you’re a good candidate for egg freezing, we’ll start the ovarian stimulation phase. During this phase, you’ll take hormone injections to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs (instead of the single egg that is typically produced during a natural cycle). This part of the process lasts about 10-14 days and involves regular monitoring via ultrasound and bloodwork to track your progress.
3. Egg Retrieval
Once your eggs have matured, we’ll schedule your egg retrieval procedure. This is a minor surgical procedure that takes place under light sedation. Using an ultrasound-guided needle, the eggs are carefully retrieved from your ovaries. The process typically takes about 20-30 minutes, and most patients can return home the same day.
4. Egg Freezing
After retrieval, the eggs are evaluated for quality and prepared for freezing. Using a method called vitrification, the eggs are frozen rapidly, which helps prevent the formation of ice crystals that can damage the cells. The frozen eggs are then stored in our state-of-the-art fertility lab, where they can remain for several years until you’re ready to use them.
5. Future Use
When you’re ready to use your frozen eggs, they will be thawed, fertilized with sperm (through IVF), and transferred into your uterus to attempt pregnancy. The success rate of achieving pregnancy with frozen eggs depends on several factors, including your age at the time of freezing and the number of eggs retrieved.
Egg Freezing Cost
One of the most common questions we receive is about the egg freezing cost. The cost of egg freezing typically includes several components, such as the medications used for ovarian stimulation, the egg retrieval procedure, the freezing process, and long-term storage. The exact cost of egg freezing can vary depending on the number of cycles needed and the specific requirements of each patient, but the average cost of egg freezing in the US ranges from $8,000 to $15,000.
At Fertility Partnership, we’re dedicated to making fertility preservation affordable. We believe that every woman deserves the chance to preserve her fertility, which is why we work hard to offer competitive pricing and flexible financing options.
Is Egg Freezing Right for You?
Egg freezing is a deeply personal decision, and it’s important to weigh the potential benefits and challenges. If you’re considering egg freezing, we recommend scheduling a consultation with one of our fertility specialists. During your consultation, we’ll assess your reproductive health, discuss your options, and help you decide if egg freezing is the best path for you.
Key Benefits of Egg Freezing:
- Preservation of Fertility: Egg freezing allows you to preserve your fertility during your prime reproductive years, giving you the flexibility to start a family when you’re ready.
- Peace of Mind: Knowing that you have preserved healthy eggs can provide emotional and psychological relief, especially if you’re not yet ready for motherhood.
- Affordability: With competitive pricing and financing options, Fertility Partnership makes egg freezing accessible to a wide range of women.
- Fertility Preservation for Medical Reasons: For women facing medical treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation, egg freezing offers a way to preserve fertility before undergoing potentially damaging treatments.
Egg Freezing: What to Consider
If you’re considering egg freezing, it’s important to work with a trusted fertility clinic that has experience and expertise in reproductive medicine, like Fertility Partnership. Our location near St. Louis offers convenient access to advanced fertility treatments, a caring and compassionate team, and cutting-edge technologies that enhance your chances of future success.
Additionally, Fertility Partnership welcomes out-of-state patients who are seeking fertility preservation, and we regularly work with patients who travel from across the country. We also offer remote consultations and flexible scheduling to accommodate those traveling to our clinic. Whether you’re from Missouri or beyond, we’re here to support your fertility goals with expert care and affordable pricing.
Contact Fertility Partnership in St. Louis, MO
Looking for egg freezing in St. Louis? Contact Fertility Partnership today to schedule a consultation at our greater St. Louis location and take control of your reproductive future.