When I informed my mother of my decision to freeze my eggs, her response was a witty quip about her future grandchildren being stored alongside ice cream. While humorous, this moment highlights a growing reality in the UK: more and more women are choosing to preserve their fertility through egg freezing, a process with both significant potential and clear limitations.
The Soaring Popularity of Fertility Preservation
According to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the UK's fertility industry regulator, there has been a staggering 170% increase in egg freezing cycles between 2019 and 2023. Although the technology has existed since the 1980s, it became far more accessible in the 2000s with the advent of vitrification, a flash-freezing technique. Today, it's discussed openly by celebrities like Florence Pugh and Michaela Coel, and is even subsidised for employees at major firms such as Meta, Spotify, and Goldman Sachs.
Despite this growing awareness, the medical procedure known as oocyte cryopreservation remains a complex and daunting prospect for many. Compounding this is criticism of the industry's commercialisation and a lack of transparency. Based on personal experience and expert insights, here is a comprehensive look at what you need to know.
The Reality of the Process and Its Outcomes
A crucial first point to understand is that egg freezing is essentially the first half of an IVF cycle. The ovaries are stimulated with hormones to produce multiple follicles, each containing a single egg. Once mature, these eggs are retrieved under sedation and frozen. When you wish to use them, they are thawed, mixed with sperm, and transferred to the womb—the same process as IVF.
It is vital to manage expectations, as a frozen egg does not guarantee a baby. Professor Melanie Davies, a senior consultant gynaecologist at University College London Hospitals, advises being prepared for potential lack of success. Some eggs may not survive the freezing or thawing process, let alone fertilisation or transfer. Dr Zeynep Gurtin of UCL frames it as an addition to your reproductive arsenal: "It gives you another option... but in no way does it guarantee that will happen."
Finding the Right Clinic and Managing the Timeline
Thorough research is essential. The HFEA website and the Seen fertility advice platform are excellent starting points. Kayleigh Hartigan, CEO of Seen, suggests considering whether you prefer a large, potentially impersonal clinic or a smaller one with a more hands-on approach. Success rates are hard to find due to the procedure's relative novelty, so a good proxy is a clinic's live birth per embryo transfer rate, which can be compared against the national average on the HFEA site. Be wary of clinics that oversell or use high-pressure tactics.
Logistically, the process can take longer than anticipated. A single cycle typically lasts about two weeks, but initial cycles can be abandoned, extending the timeline to months. The process begins with the menstrual cycle, requiring daily hormone injections for eight to eleven days. This is accompanied by regular internal scans to monitor follicle growth, necessitating clinic visits—around four times in eleven days—which can be challenging to juggle with work. A day off is also needed for recovery after the egg retrieval procedure.
Practicalities, Costs, and Emotional Impact
Most women are pleasantly surprised by how quickly they adapt to the subcutaneous injections in the lower belly. While timing is important, being an hour or two late for a jab is usually not critical, though missing one entirely could jeopardise the cycle.
Age is a significant factor. While fertility doesn't plummet at 35, egg quality is primarily related to age, meaning freezing at a younger age generally yields better results. Consequently, you may need more than one round. At 36, retrieving only six eggs, as I did, offers relatively low chances. Studies suggest that 35- to 37-year-olds may need to freeze 15-20 eggs for a 70-75% chance of a single live birth, though Professor Joyce Harper of UCL cautions it's not just a numbers game, as womb health and egg quality are also critical.
Financially, the HFEA states costs between £7,000 and £8,000, but extras can push this higher. Luzia Bruckamp, an Oxford PhD student, paid £6,700 after being quoted a lower price, highlighting the need to get final, comprehensive quotes by email. Medication alone can cost between £500 and £1,500.
Lifestyle adjustments are necessary; intense exercise is discouraged to avoid the rare risk of ovarian torsion. Side-effects like bloating and fatigue are common. The egg retrieval itself is a quick, sedated procedure, typically taking about 30 minutes.
Finally, the emotional toll should not be underestimated. The process can spark profound questions about relationships and the future. Building a support network through friends, family, or online communities like the Egg Freezing Support Community on Facebook is invaluable for navigating this deeply personal journey.
