How Safe Is Egg Freezing
Egg freezing is a popular solution for fertility problems and it is very safe for good candidates. In fact, our fertility doctor would only recommend freezing your eggs if it is a safe option for you, in his medical opinion. A noted fertility expert, Dr. Zapantis will carefully guide you through your fertility journey and explain all risks involved. At NY Reproductive Wellness, we have a number of fertility treatments and options available, so that we can find the best solution for each patient. That said, every medical treatment has risks, including egg freezing, and all can experience complications.
Who is the Best Candidate for Successful Egg Freezing?
The best candidates for this procedure are young women in their 20s and 30s. Women should be in good health and able to produce healthy eggs. At New York Reproductive Wellness, we take steps to minimize the possible complications of freezing your eggs. To ensure you get the best fertility option for your needs, and receive the safest treatment—select an experienced fertility doctor, with an excellent track record. Be sure to select a fertility doctor that you trust.
What Are the Risks of Egg Freezing? What Could Go Wrong?
Risks can be divided into three general categories:
Fertility drug reactions or side effects: Injected fertility medications, when used to stimulate the ovulation process can (rarely) lead to hyperstimulation. Medications used include follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or luteinizing hormone. Signs of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome include:
- Swollen ovaries and abdomen, bloating
- Pain or cramping in the abdominal area
- Dehydration
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal fluid accumulation or blood clots, leading to breathing difficulty *
(*This more serious complication is very rare.)
Retrieval complications: Needle aspiration is used to collect the eggs for freezing. To help minimize the risks or complications, we use transvaginal ultrasound to guide the needle to the precise follicles to retrieve your eggs. Rare complications include:
- Bleeding
- Bowel infection
- Bladder damage or difficulty urinating
- Punctured blood vessel
- (If general anesthesia is used, it also carries risk. At our NY fertility clinic, we typically use safer IV sedation for egg retrieval.)
Emotional health risks: Freezing eggs is a hopeful, optimistic, forward-looking choice. Since no medical procedure is 100 percent successful, however, you may endure deep disappointment or depression if your eggs do not result in a successful pregnancy and child. At New York Reproductive Wellness, we use an advanced method of instant egg freezing (called Oocyte Cryopreservation Vitrification or OCV). This method helps prevent the formation of ice crystals within the cells--and maximizes the success and survival of your eggs.
Visit the NY Expert in Egg Freezing and Fertility
If you're considering freezing your eggs in order to add to your family at a later date, we would be happy to discuss the procedure with you. Our fertility doctor will explain all risks and make sure you understand what to expect, so you can determine if egg freezing is right for you. Please contact us at New York Reproductive Wellness to learn more--today.
