Egg freezing is big decision, and we want to make you feel comfortable throughout the process. That's why our dedicated egg freezing team helps you receive the best possible care, counseling and support.
Penn Fertility Care's Fertility Preservation Program offers egg freezing as an option to preserve fertility. Many women who have frozen their eggs or used our donor egg bank have had successful pregnancies.
What Is Egg Freezing?
Egg freezing, also called oocyte cryopreservation, is the process of collecting and freezing unfertilized eggs for later use. Egg freezing is a proven practice recognized by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.
You may choose egg freezing to preserve your fertility for personal, professional or medical reasons. For example, if you're facing medical treatments that may compromise your fertility, egg freezing may be a good choice. People who are in their most fertile years (late teens to age 36) may also choose to freeze eggs now so they can become pregnant later.
When you are ready to become pregnant, our infertility specialists thaw and fertilize your eggs and transfer the embryo to your uterus.
Is Egg Freezing Safe?
Egg freezing is safe. Studies show it does not increase the risk of pregnancy complications or birth defects. Thousands of babies worldwide have been born because of egg freezing.
Egg Freezing at Penn Medicine: Why Choose Us?
Even if you aren't prepared to start your family today, you may be able to improve your chances of getting pregnant later. We're here to help preserve your eggs to give you a better opportunity of becoming a parent — on your terms.
At Penn Fertility Care, we use advanced vitrification technology, which freezes eggs rapidly. This process prevents the formation of ice crystals, which can damage eggs during thawing.
Our reproductive endocrinologists are also at the forefront of egg freezing and ovarian tissue freezing research. Our research has helped determine the best egg freezing methods and ensures you're getting the latest and best treatments.
Egg Freezing Process: What to Expect from Retrieval
The egg retrieval process for egg freezing is the same as in vitro fertilization (IVF):
- You take fertility drugs to produce multiple egg-containing follicles.
- We evaluate the progress of your follicles' development through hormone checks and ultrasounds.
- When your egg follicles are ready, our doctors collect them using a needle guided by ultrasound. You are under sedation, and the process is not painful.
- Then, we immediately transfer and freeze the eggs in our specialized lab. The eggs are securely stored here at Penn until you're ready to attempt pregnancy.
Making the Decision to Freeze Your Eggs
The decision to freeze your eggs can be difficult. You must weigh the potential success, cost and risks of the procedure.
Freezing eggs does not guarantee a future pregnancy. It is possible that some eggs will not survive, fertilize or lead to a pregnancy. However, many people have gotten pregnant with their own frozen eggs or eggs from a donor. Our experts are available to speak with you about your options and help you make the best decision.
Getting Pregnant with Donor Eggs
Sometimes you're not able to freeze your eggs during your peak reproductive years, and your eggs are not usable. In these cases, we offer egg donor services. Our Donor Egg Program matches individuals with an egg donor to give you a chance at conception.
Donor egg services allow you to use eggs donated by a young, healthy woman. An egg donor may be a good option for people who:
- Are over the age of 40
- Have diminished ovarian reserve (lower number of eggs)
- Are going through early menopause
- Have completed cancer treatment
Other Fertility Preservation Methods
At Penn, there's no one way to make a family. That's why we offer a wide range of fertility preservation services, including:
- Embryo freezing: Our fertility specialists freeze your fertilized egg until you're ready to get pregnant.
- Ovarian tissue freezing: Doctors remove your ovary and freeze it. Later, doctors re-implant your ovary when you're ready to get pregnant.
- Sperm banking services: Our fertility specialists freeze sperm for a person's later use.
Make an Appointment
Call 800-789-7366 or request a callback.