The Future of Egg Freezing: Advancements in Technology and Fertility Preservation
TLDR; Egg freezing is popular due to age-related fertility decline, egg quantity and quality issues. The process involves hormone injections and surgery, with uncertain success and high cost. However, advancements in technology could make it more reliable and accessible in the future.
⏳ What is egg freezing?
Egg freezing involves surgically removing eggs from the body, freezing them for potential future use, and possibly creating embryos for later use.
As people delay having children due to changing lifestyles, egg freezing offers the potential to preserve fertility as age affects the ability to conceive.
The process requires extensive research, conversations with doctors, and weeks of self-injected medication.
📈 Why is egg freezing so popular?
The average age of first-time moms has shifted to 25-34, leading to increased interest in egg freezing due to career prioritization and delayed childbearing.
The complexity of the reproductive process, including egg release, fertilization, and pregnancy, contributes to the challenges of conceiving as individuals age.
🥚 What is egg quantity?
Women are born with approximately 1 million eggs, but the quantity decreases over time due to monthly loss and ovulation.
At puberty, women have around 300,000 eggs, and the decline continues, impacting fertility.
The focus on egg quantity is important, but it's not the sole factor affecting fertility.
🧬 What is egg quality?
Egg quality refers to the presence of 23 chromosomes, crucial for successful embryo development.
As women age, the likelihood of eggs having chromosomal abnormalities increases, impacting the ability to get and stay pregnant.
The decline in egg quality is attributed to the way DNA is duplicated and divided, making conception more challenging with age.
👩⚕️ Why does egg quality decline with age?
The decline in egg quality is due to the DNA duplication process, which becomes less effective as eggs age, making it harder to achieve pregnancy.
As women age, the rates of miscarriage increase, and the chances of getting pregnant each month decrease.
❓ Why don’t we have cryosleep yet?
Cryosleep or body freezing for preservation isn't feasible for humans due to the body's composition and the risk of internal damage from ice crystal formation.
However, egg and embryo freezing is possible through vitrification, a process where water is replaced with antifreeze to prevent crystal formation.
The surface area to volume ratio of eggs and embryos allows for rapid vitrification without damage, making the process successful for preservation.
⚙️ Why does egg freezing work?
Egg and embryo freezing works due to the high surface area to volume ratio, enabling rapid vitrification without ice crystal formation.
The success of this process has led to advancements in vitrifying whole organs, potentially revolutionizing organ transplants and medical treatments in the future.
⏳ Egg freezing timeline
The egg freezing process involves hormone injections for 8-14 days to stimulate egg production, culminating in a surgical procedure to retrieve the eggs for freezing.
The injections and the overall process can be mentally and physically demanding, with potential side effects and the need for frequent medical monitoring.
The cost and uncertainty of success make the decision to undergo egg freezing a complex and challenging one.
💰 Egg freezing cost
The cost of egg freezing can range from fully covered to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on individual medical history and insurance coverage.
The high cost, coupled with the uncertainty of success, poses significant challenges for individuals considering egg freezing as an option.
📊 Egg freezing success rates
The average number of eggs retrieved for freezing is around 10, with varying success rates for fertilization and chromosomal normalcy.
The entire process is a significant investment with no guarantee of a successful pregnancy, leading to feelings of uncertainty and anxiety for individuals undergoing egg freezing.
🔮 Why egg freezing is huge if true
Advancements in egg and embryo freezing technology could make it more reliable, accessible, and affordable in the future, potentially changing lives and societal norms.
The positive impact of improved egg freezing technology could lead to greater reproductive freedom, improved medical options, and enhanced peace of mind for individuals.
Despite the current challenges, the potential for future advancements in egg freezing technology offers hope for a more accessible and reliable fertility preservation process.