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How successful is egg freezing?
If you are thinking about freezing your eggs, it’s completely understandable to want to know how effective the process is and how likely it can lead to a successful pregnancy. After all, it’s a life-changing decision.
The success rate of egg freezing depends on several factors, including age and the total number of eggs stored. However, having good-quality eggs can significantly improve your chances of achieving a successful pregnancy later on.
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What is egg freezing?
Egg freezing is a method of preserving a person's fertility, offering them the flexibility to try for a baby at a time that's right for them.
During this process, a partial in vitro fertilisation (IVF) cycle is performed. This starts with self-administered hormone medication to stimulate egg growth. After some monitoring scans to check the progress of egg development, the eggs are collected from the ovaries. The eggs are assessed by an embryologist and healthy eggs are rapidly frozen and safely stored in liquid nitrogen for future use.
Egg freezing success rates
At TFP Fertility, we estimate that 90% of eggs survive the freeze-thaw process, which occurs when the eggs are thawed for IVF treatment. However, it’s important to understand that the success rate is influenced by the number of eggs matured during the retrieval process.
Several factors can affect the quality of the eggs collected, including certain lifestyle choices, medications, underlying health conditions and most importantly, age.
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Quality vs quantity of eggs
Both the quality and quantity of eggs are important factors in egg freezing, but it’s essential to know the difference between the two. Egg quality refers to the health of the eggs, their ability to be fertilised into embryos and the likelihood of successful implantation. Therefore, higher quality eggs have a greater chance of leading to a successful pregnancy.
As individuals age, both the quantity and quality of eggs decline; however, genetics and lifestyle choices also impact egg health, regardless of age. If you’re wondering how old you have to be to freeze your eggs, it’s worth noting that although the number of eggs collected is important, egg quality plays a more critical role in the ability to conceive. In many cases, having a smaller number of high-quality eggs may provide a better chance of conception than having a larger quantity of lower-quality eggs.
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Does age impact success rates?
When it comes to fertility, age plays a significant role in determining success rates. While individuals can freeze their eggs at any age up until they reach menopause, those who do so before 35 generally have a higher chance of successful treatment later on, as the eggs used are younger and healthier.
However, medical history and lifestyle choices can also affect fertility treatment outcomes. Therefore, individuals over 35 may still have the possibility of conceiving through egg freezing, depending on their circumstances. This is one of the reasons why most fertility clinics in the UK have an age limit of 45 for egg freezing.
Pregnancy success rates
It’s important to understand that not all frozen eggs guarantee a successful pregnancy.
In 2023, the success rate of live births from egg freezing at TFP Fertility was 23%. However, success rates can vary from person to person and several factors can influence the outcome. That’s why at TFP Fertility, our fertility team will discuss the process in detail with you and find a suitable treatment plan to help maximise your chances of conceiving.
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Improving the success of egg freezing
There are several ways you can improve the success of freezing your eggs. These include:
Eat nutrient-rich meals – Consuming a healthy, balanced diet can enhance egg quality. The Mediterranean diet, which is rich in antioxidants, fibre and healthy fats, is recommended for boosting fertility, egg quality, and improving IVF success rates. The diet includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, olive oil, nuts, legumes and fish.
Avoid alcohol and smoking – Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking can negatively affect oestrogen levels and the number of eggs retrieved during the collection process. So, it’s best to avoid drinking alcohol and smoking to help increase your chances of conceiving.
Exercise – Staying active is important for your overall health. Carrying out low-impact exercises like swimming, walking and cycling can enhance blood flow to the reproductive organs, providing oxygen and nutrients to the eggs. Regular exercise also helps with weight management and insulin levels, which can impact egg quality.
Take time to relax – Managing stress and staying calm can significantly impact egg quality. High levels of stress can disrupt hormonal balance, affecting ovulation and consequently, egg quality. So, take care of yourself and invest time in activities you enjoy.
Healthcare advice – If you have questions about improving the success of egg freezing or any fertility-related issues, contact your doctor or fertility clinic. Rest assured, they will offer the guidance and advice you need.
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TFP success stories
Recently, more women have chosen to preserve their fertility. At TFP Fertility, we have had individuals who have frozen their eggs for different reasons.
Philippa is one of our many patients who has decided to freeze her eggs to preserve her options for when she is ready to have children. With the support of her family, she shares how her decision has reduced the pressure about starting a family.
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