IVF and Egg Freezing — What’s the Right Choice for You?
In today’s world, you have many opportunities for fertility. IVF — also known as in vitro fertilisation — and egg freezing are common routes to becoming a parent. Each method has helped millions of adults with their journey to parenthood, but egg freezing vs. embryo freezing success rates can vary.
Each practice can take lots of money, time and emotional tolls on patients. If you are considering the two and trying to figure out which is right for you, this article breaks down the basics, the procedures, IVF and egg freezing side effects and their success rates.
Importance Of Hormones
In IVF and egg freezing treatment, hormones play a massive role in conceiving. Hormonal imbalances can lead to primary ovarian insufficiency, which is a condition where your ovaries stop functioning normally before reaching 40. Making sure your hormones are in the best shape before starting your journey is ideal.
So many hormones are involved in the reproductive process that your doctor will prescribe hormone injections to stimulate egg production as the first step in both approaches. This way, the doctor can retrieve multiple eggs from your ovaries in the second step.
What is In Vitro Fertilisation?
IVF involves combining eggs and sperm in a lab. This process happens quickly to create an embryo, which a doctor implants into the uterus. If you are trying to get pregnant immediately, this may be the route for you.
After the eggs are retrieved, the facility fertilises them with sperm. The term “in vitro” means the process happens “in glass,” such as a test tube. Once they properly monitor and develop the embryos, they are ready. You will undergo a nonsurgical procedure to transfer the embryo into the uterus. Typically, the doctor uses a catheter to insert it.
Just like that, the process is over. The doctor will ask you to take a blood pregnancy test within two weeks since it is more accurate than your typical take-home test. You will then see whether the procedure was a success or not. In total, this process takes about a month.
What is Egg Freezing?
The beginning stages of egg freezing are the same as IVF but have completely different end goals. You will still be using hormone injections to stimulate egg production so the doctor can collect your eggs from your ovaries. Where it differs is the eggs are immediately frozen once retrieved. Once they undergo this process, the staff sends them to a proper storage facility for holding until you're ready to use them. In total, this process takes about 14 days.
You may use this method if you and your significant other are looking for a sperm donor. You may also be in your early 30s and have not yet found the right person, so saving them is a great option.
Potential Side Effects
Like many medical procedures, there are IVF and egg freezing side effects you may experience. Most of them come from the hormonal fertility medication you take to prepare for egg retrieval. Some side effects you may have with these medications are:
● Soreness or bruising from the injection site. You may feel pain or tenderness at the site of the injection. Try to change around where you’re injecting to reduce the soreness.
● Nausea. You may also experience vomiting as well.
● Bloating. This is a common side effect you may experience during your menstrual cycle. The same hormones are involved in stimulating egg development.
● Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS). This is an excessive response to taking injectable hormones. If too many follicles grow, they may leak into the abdomen. It usually has mild symptoms like bloating, nausea and weight gain. In mild cases, you can treat OHSS with rest and hydration.
Success Rates
Depending on what you’re leaning towards, success rates have mixed reviews. It is important to remember neither of the procedures guarantees pregnancy. For IVF, the success rates have been occurring about 50% of the time in women aged 35 and under.
When it comes to egg freezing vs. embryo freezing success rates, there is little data on how many women have followed through with the process. The rate of frozen egg usage range is about 3% to 9%. However, a study led by New York University did collect findings that freezing embryo success rates are higher. Seventy percent of women who froze their eggs before 38 and thawed at least 20 had a baby.
Decide What Is Best For You
Each option presents you with different procedures, so take time to consider which is best for your current lifestyle or what you see for your future. Egg freezing leaves you with options for the future and IVF immediately implants the egg into the uterus. Talk with a doctor to see which is best for you.
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Beth, the Managing Editor and content manager at Body+Mind, is well-respected in the mental health, nutrition and fitness spaces. In her spare time, Beth enjoys cooking and going for runs with her dog.
