Social Freezing - Freezing unfertilised eggs

By freezing unfertilised eggs, women can safeguard their fertility in the long term. Eggs are retrieved in a young, healthy state, frozen and preserved for a later date. Social freezing (preventive egg freezing) does not remove the natural age limit of fertility, but it can be "frozen" in time to allow better chances of pregnancy at a later date.

The process of freezing unfertilised eggs takes place in several steps. Firstly, the woman's natural cycle is hormonally stimulated so that several eggs mature at the same time. This phase usually lasts around ten to twelve days and is closely monitored by ultrasound examinations and blood tests. Once the eggs have reached optimal maturity, they are gently retrieved under a light anaesthetic by means of a so-called follicular puncture. Once the eggs have been retrieved, they are frozen using the modern method of vitrification. Vitrification is an ultra-fast freezing process that prevents ice crystals from forming in the egg cell, which could damage its structure. Shock freezing and storage in liquid nitrogen at around minus 196 degrees Celsius means that the quality of the egg cells remains virtually unchanged. Theoretically, these cells can be stored for decades and used at a later date without compromising their ability to fertilise.

The great advantage of this procedure is that the woman can take precautionary action independently of a partner. She can store her own eggs in a young, healthy state and use them for in vitro fertilisation or ICSI treatment at a later date. The chances of success depend on the age, quality and number of frozen eggs. The great advantage of this procedure is that the woman can take precautionary action independently of a partner. In this way, she preserves her own eggs in a young, healthy state and can use them for in vitro fertilisation or ICSI treatment at a later date. The chances of success depend on the age, quality and number of frozen eggs. For further information and advice, please contact us.