15 Egg Freezing Questions To Ask Your Doctor
Considering freezing your eggs? Before taking this leap, it’s important to gather all the information you need to make an informed choice.
I’ve compiled a list of questions you should ask your doctor before undergoing egg freezing. It was one the BEST decisions I could’ve made for my future self. Read my egg journey story here.
Hope you find this useful!
1. How does egg freezing work?
Knowing the steps of the egg freezing process is one of the most important things. The process is more than just freezing your eggs, there’s specific timing and injections involved.
2. What is the success rate of egg freezing?
Age, health, genetic factors, etc play a major role in whether your frozen eggs will lead to a pregnancy and then a baby later on. Knowing if you are a good candidate before freezing your eggs and success outcomes is necessary.
3. What are the potential risks and side effects?
Elective egg freezing is safe. But there are potential side effects. I’ve written a lot about it here but your fertility doctor should inform you about the possible risks.
4. How many eggs should I freeze to have a good chance of success?
Egg freezing is about both quality and quantity. There are egg freezing calculators online but again there are a lot of factors involved and your doctor should tell you what their goal for you is.
5. What is the ideal age to freeze my eggs?
I was 28 when I froze my eggs. My doctor told me I should freeze my eggs by age 32. This shocked me. I always thought it was meant for women in their mid-late 30s. I learned the earlier you freeze your eggs, the better!
6. How long can my eggs be stored?
Depending on the country where you froze your eggs there may be a limit to how long your eggs can be stored.
7. Are there any restrictions or guidelines for using frozen eggs?
You will sign a good amount of paperwork before you freeze your eggs. If you’re wondering if you can later donate your eggs or use them in a different way, it’s a great question to ask your doctor.
8. What happens if I decide not to use my frozen eggs?
After you freeze your eggs, you can still conceive naturally! So what happens if your eggs go unused? You have choices. Your clinic should be able to tell you what they are.
9. How much does egg freezing cost, and are there any financing options available?
Egg freezing (especially in the U.S.) is expensive. Factors depend on how many cycles you do, your medication dosage, and the state you are in. Knowing all the costs upfront, including if you have insurance coverage, is critical.
10. Will the process require any medical interventions or hormone treatments?
Everyone’s treatment plan is different. There is something called mini IVF, where it’s more of a natural approach to the process. But it’s not incredibly common. Ask about what medications you’ll be prescribed and how to administer them.
11. Are there any lifestyle changes I need to make before and during the egg freezing process?
Egg freezing doesn’t upend your life but you will need to limit exercise while taking the hormone injections, start taking a prenatal vitamin, and a few other things. This is a great question to ask your doctor!
12. Are there any factors that may affect the quality of my eggs?
SMOKING! I had to answer this question myself lol. Your doctor should tell you more about what could improve or decrease the quality of your eggs.
13. How will egg freezing impact my future fertility and chances of conceiving naturally?
Egg freezing literally freezes the eggs you would have otherwise ovulated that month. You are truly giving your future self a chance to have a baby (or two).
14. What is the process for using my frozen eggs when I’m ready to have a child?
This is SUCH AN IMPORTANT question to ask. I will tell you, egg freezing is the first step of IVF.
15. Are there any alternatives to egg freezing that I should consider?
Your reproductive endocrinologist is in the business of helping to create and expand families. They will be able to tell you other ways of fertility preservation.
Having a candid and informative discussion with your doctor regarding egg freezing is essential. They will be able to provide you with personalized information based on your specific circumstances and answer any additional questions you may have. The decision to freeze your eggs is a personal one, and seeking information and guidance from a medical professional will help you make the best decision for your future fertility.
Feel free to message me any of your egg freezing questions on Instagram @girlwithdrive.
