Egg freezing

Pregnancy may not be easy for everyone, especially nowadays when many people are getting married later or experiencing fertility-related problems. Egg freezing, also known as Oocyte Cryopreservation, has therefore become an important option for those who want to plan for pregnancy in the future, whether for health reasons or because they are not yet ready to have children.

Today, egg freezing methods have been developed to be safe and allow egg cells to be preserved under appropriate conditions. In this article, we will help you understand egg freezing, from preparation and the egg freezing process to post-egg retrieval care, so that you can make an informed decision when planning to have children in the future.

Egg freezing (Oocyte Cryopreservation) is a medical technique that uses technology to freeze and preserve egg cells (oocytes) for future use. Mature and healthy eggs are retrieved from the ovaries after hormonal ovarian stimulation. They are then frozen at approximately -196°C using a technique called vitrification, which helps reduce cellular damage caused by ice crystal formation.

The egg freezing process allows women to preserve their own eggs for use when they are ready to become pregnant, whether they are not yet ready to have children or are making long-term life plans. Egg freezing is therefore an important option for those planning for pregnancy in the future and also plays an important role for those experiencing a decline in fertility.

Many people may not realise that age affects egg quality more than they think. As age increases, the chances of becoming pregnant naturally gradually decrease, making advance planning important.

Egg freezing allows women to preserve their eggs while they are still healthy and of good quality, before ovarian function begins to decline with age. It is particularly suitable for women aged 35 and above who want to have children in the future or who are not yet ready to have children at this time.

It is suitable both for those who want to make long-term life plans and for those undergoing fertility treatment, such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Therefore, egg freezing is not simply about preserving eggs—it is about preserving an opportunity for the future when you are ready.

Before undergoing the egg freezing process, women should prepare themselves both physically and mentally to help retrieve the best-quality eggs possible. Taking proper care of yourself during this period can affect long-term outcomes. The recommended ways to prepare before egg freezing are as follows:

Adjust Your Eating Habits

Choose foods that are high in protein, such as eggs, fish, and dried beans. Reduce sugar, refined carbohydrates, and processed foods to help balance hormones and support ovarian function.

Take Essential Vitamins and Supplements

Take supplements that help support egg health, such as Coenzyme Q10, Astaxanthin, Methyl Folate, Vitamin D, and Inositol. It is recommended to consult a doctor before taking any supplements to ensure they are appropriate for your individual health condition.

Get Enough Rest and Manage Stress

Quality sleep has a significant effect on reproductive system function and helps reduce hormonal fluctuations. Chronic stress may also reduce the body's response to ovarian stimulation.

Get Fresh Air and Gentle Morning Sunlight

Getting approximately 20–30 minutes of natural morning sunlight helps stimulate Vitamin D production, which plays an important role in supporting egg quality and maintaining hormonal balance in the body. In addition, getting fresh air can help promote relaxation and positively affect the body's overall function.

Avoid Smoking and Alcohol

Substances found in cigarettes and alcoholic beverages can directly affect egg quality and reduce the chances of embryo implantation.

Have a Health Check-Up Before Egg Freezing

Consult a doctor to assess hormone levels such as AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) and FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone), as well as undergo other necessary examinations. A partner may also need to undergo a semen analysis if there are plans to undergo IVF in the future.

Consult a Doctor to Plan Your Egg Freezing

The doctor will provide guidance throughout every step of the process and assess the most appropriate timing based on each individual's physical condition, helping ensure that the egg freezing process begins smoothly and safely.

The egg freezing process involves a systematic series of steps to ensure that the best-quality eggs can be retrieved and to help increase the chances of successful fertilization in the future. There are five main steps in the egg freezing process, as follows:

1. Health Check-Up and Hormone Assessment

On Day 2–3 of the menstrual cycle, the doctor will perform a physical examination and blood tests to assess relevant hormone levels, such as AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone), as well as screen for common infectious diseases. A transvaginal ultrasound will also be performed to assess the number of follicles in the ovaries. All of these examinations are part of the preparation before beginning the egg retrieval process.

2. Ovarian Stimulation with Hormones

Once the physical examination and hormone assessment have been completed, the doctor will begin ovarian stimulation using medications such as Gonal-F, Follitropin alfa, or Menopur. These medications help multiple eggs develop within a single menstrual cycle.

Medications to prevent premature ovulation, such as Cetrotide or Orgalutran, will also be administered. Ovarian stimulation usually takes approximately 8–10 days, during which the size of the developing follicles will be monitored periodically by ultrasound.

3. Monitor Follicle Size and Administer the Trigger Injection

Once the follicles reach the appropriate size, the doctor will administer medication to stimulate final egg maturation, such as Ovidrel or hCG. The egg retrieval procedure will then be scheduled within 34–36 hours after the injection to obtain eggs at the optimal stage for freezing or future IVF treatment.

4. Egg Retrieval Procedure

On the day of egg retrieval, the patient undergoing egg freezing will receive sedation. The doctor will then use a needle to retrieve the eggs from the follicles through the vagina under ultrasound guidance.

The egg retrieval procedure takes approximately 30 minutes, and patients should rest for at least 1–2 hours after the procedure. It is recommended to avoid food and water for 8 hours beforehand and to follow the doctor's instructions before undergoing the egg retrieval procedure.

5. Egg Freezing and Storage

The retrieved eggs will undergo an initial quality assessment before being frozen using a technique called vitrification. This rapid-freezing method helps reduce the formation of ice crystals that could damage the cells.

The eggs are then stored in liquid nitrogen at approximately -196°C until they are needed for fertilization, such as for in vitro fertilization (IVF), when the egg owner is ready to plan for pregnancy in the future.

After undergoing the egg freezing procedure, your body may experience some minor changes. Proper self-care is important to help your body recover more quickly and reduce the risk of possible complications. Basic aftercare recommendations include the following:

Get enough rest: After egg retrieval, you should rest for at least 1–2 days to allow your body to recover fully. If you experience fatigue or a dull ache in the lower abdomen, make sure you get enough sleep and avoid strenuous activities.

Avoid strenuous exercise: Avoid cardio exercise, weight training, or high-impact activities for 1 week after egg freezing to help prevent ovarian torsion.

Monitor for unusual symptoms: If you develop a high fever, severe abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, or abnormal vaginal discharge, you should seek medical attention immediately, as these may be signs of complications such as infection or Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS).

Choose appropriate foods: Focus on high-protein, easily digestible foods such as fish, eggs, and tofu, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid fermented foods, fatty foods, and fried foods. You should also drink at least 1.5–2 litres of clean water per day to help reduce fluid retention and support faster recovery after egg freezing.

Avoid sexual intercourse during the initial recovery period: Sexual intercourse should be avoided for at least 7 days after egg retrieval to reduce the risk of infection or internal abdominal injury.

When you are ready to start a family in the future, your frozen eggs will be thawed and used in the IVF process. This includes fertilisation by directly injecting a sperm into an egg (ICSI), embryo culture, and embryo transfer into the uterine cavity. If there are any remaining healthy embryos, they can be frozen for future use.

Before freezing your eggs, please be aware that even among younger age groups (under 37 years old), not all eggs may survive the freezing and thawing process. In addition, some thawed eggs may not fertilise or develop into embryos, and embryos transferred into the uterus may not always result in pregnancy. However, you can be confident that our team is committed to providing our knowledge, expertise, and the best available technology to maximise your chances of success.

Here, we will guide you through the available options so that you can find the one that is most suitable for you.

When is the right time to begin the egg freezing process? The right time to try to have a baby depends on your individual circumstances. It is a highly personal decision. You may be single, have a partner, or be in an LGBTQ+ relationship. If you are not ready to have a child now, egg freezing may be an option to help preserve your fertility.

Getting started is not difficult. As a first step, we recommend making an appointment with a fertility doctor. During the consultation, the available options will be explained to you, an initial plan will be created, and your fertility will be assessed.

If you would like to have an informal discussion to explore your options, you can make an appointment with one of our nurses who has experience in fertility care.

In general, the egg freezing process takes approximately 12–14 days, starting from the first day of your menstrual cycle until the day of egg retrieval. Each step is systematically planned, with doctors and nurses providing close care and monitoring throughout the process.

Day 1: The patient undergoing egg freezing should contact the clinic as soon as the first day of menstruation begins to notify the clinic that the egg freezing process is starting. The nurse will provide instructions according to the individual treatment plan prescribed by the doctor.

Day 2: Begin FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) injections to stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs than usual during that menstrual cycle.

Days 3–6: Continue FSH injections every day while monitoring symptoms according to the doctor's instructions.

Day 7: Continue FSH injections and begin using an ovulation blocker to prevent premature ovulation and control the eggs from being released naturally.

Days 8–9: Blood tests and ultrasound scans are performed to monitor egg development. If the eggs have reached an appropriate size and number, a trigger injection will be administered at the scheduled time.

Days 10–11: Another follow-up examination will be performed to assess readiness before the egg retrieval day.

Day 12 or 13: Undergo the egg retrieval procedure. The doctor will use a needle to retrieve the eggs under light anaesthesia. The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes, followed by a short recovery period.

• When Is the Right Time?

The right time to plan for having children depends on each person's individual circumstances, as it is a decision that requires both physical and emotional readiness. Whether you are single, married, or in an LGBTQI+ relationship, if you are not ready to have children at this time, egg freezing may be an option to help preserve your ability to have children in the future.

To help you plan with confidence, it is recommended to receive a free fertility assessment at the hospital. This can provide an initial evaluation of your fertility, along with direct advice from a doctor on whether this is the right time to become pregnant or whether you should consider freezing your eggs first.

• What Are the Chances of Pregnancy Using Stored Sperm, Eggs, or Embryos?

The chances of pregnancy using stored sperm, eggs, or embryos depend on the quality of the cells and the age at which they were preserved. When frozen sperm is used, pregnancy rates are similar to those achieved with fresh sperm, whether through IUI or IVF.

Frozen embryos also provide outcomes similar to fresh embryos, with more than 95% generally surviving the freezing and thawing process. However, with egg freezing, there is a greater chance that some eggs may not survive the process compared with embryos. Egg survival rates may range from 50% to more than 90%, depending on the individual.

If the eggs survive the freezing and thawing process, most can develop into embryos normally, although some may not develop completely. Important factors affecting the chances of pregnancy include the woman's age at the time she decides to undergo egg freezing, as well as the number of eggs or embryos available.

For those interested in undergoing multiple egg freezing cycles, Beyond IVF also offers discounts on subsequent treatment cycles to help you plan for the future with greater confidence.

• What Are the Risks of Egg Freezing?

Egg freezing is considered a relatively safe medical procedure. However, there is still a possibility of side effects, such as Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), or milder symptoms such as lower abdominal discomfort, nausea, or hormone-related mood changes.

Following your doctor's self-care recommendations can help reduce these risks.

• How Much Does Egg Freezing Cost?

The cost of egg freezing may vary depending on the package and the doctor providing treatment. At Beyond IVF, there are two egg freezing promotional packages available.

The package with Dr. Ton costs approximately THB 100,000, covering medication costs, 1 year of egg freezing and storage, and all procedures. A 0% instalment plan is available for 10 months at THB 10,000 per month.

The package with Dr. Kitti starts at approximately THB 79,000, with instalments of THB 7,900 per month.

Both packages have no limit on the number of eggs and do not include the cost of medical examinations before starting treatment. Those looking for a cost-effective egg freezing option with close care can receive the egg freezing promotional offer when attending a consultation during the specified promotional period.

Egg freezing is not only about preserving egg cells. It is also a way to plan for your own future and your future family when you are most ready to have children.

As explained above, understanding what egg freezing is and the details of the entire egg freezing process shows that deciding to start today may become an important turning point that helps increase your chances of having children in the future and building the family you have planned for.