Demanding careers, changing lifestyles, and the desire to plan parenthood on your own terms have made egg freezing an increasingly popular choice among young women in India and abroad. Once seen as an option only for women facing medical challenges, egg freezing is now widely embraced as a proactive step to preserve fertility.
But what exactly does freezing eggs involve, when is the right time to consider it, and what do the latest statistics in India reveal about its growing adoption? Apex Hospital – leading IVF center in Sirsa – decided to share a detailed guide on freezing eggs.
Let’s get started!
What is Egg Freezing?
Egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, is a medical procedure where a woman’s eggs are collected, frozen, and stored for future use. The main goal is to preserve fertility for a later stage in life when natural conception may be more difficult due to declining egg quality. Thanks to advanced vitrification techniques, frozen eggs can survive for many years with minimal loss in quality, giving women more reproductive choices.
Why Are More Women Considering Egg Freezing?
Women are born with a finite number of eggs, and fertility naturally declines with age. By the mid-30s, both egg count and quality drop significantly, making conception harder and raising risks of miscarriage and chromosomal abnormalities. Freezing eggs at a younger age helps preserve higher-quality eggs, which can later improve the chances of a successful pregnancy.
In India, demand for egg freezing treatments is rising fast. According to the latest reports, more working women are opting for egg freezing in the last few years, with an annual increase of 25%. Approximately 40% of inquiries now come from women aged 25–32, indicating that young professionals are increasingly embracing this option.
How Does Egg Freezing Happen?
The medical procedure of egg freezing is very thorough. Here’s how egg freezing works in modern facilities:
Consultation & Testing
The process begins with a detailed consultation with a fertility specialist. You undergo blood tests to check hormone levels such as AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) and FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone), which help measure your ovarian reserve (how many eggs you likely have left). An ultrasound is also done to count the tiny follicles in your ovaries. This step helps the doctor decide the best treatment plan for you.
Ovarian Stimulation
In a normal menstrual cycle, your body matures just one egg. But during egg freezing, doctors want to collect several eggs at once to increase chances of success later.
So, for about 10–14 days, you’ll take daily hormone injections that stimulate your ovaries to grow multiple eggs in one cycle. During this time, you’ll visit the clinic every few days for ultrasounds and blood tests so the doctors can track your progress and adjust medications if needed.
Egg Retrieval
Once the eggs are mature, a “trigger shot” is given to complete their growth. About 36 hours later, the eggs are collected in a short procedure called egg retrieval.
It is done under light anesthesia or sedation so you won’t feel pain. The doctor uses a thin needle guided by ultrasound to gently remove eggs from the ovaries. The procedure usually takes 20–30 minutes, and you can go home the same day after a short rest.
Vitrification (Freezing)
The collected eggs are checked for maturity, and healthy eggs are frozen through a process called vitrification. This is an ultra-rapid freezing method that prevents the formation of ice crystals inside the egg, which could damage it. The eggs are then stored in special liquid nitrogen tanks at -196°C. At this temperature, eggs can remain preserved for years without losing quality.
Future Use
When you decide to use your frozen eggs (months or even years later), the eggs are carefully thawed. They are then fertilized with sperm in a lab using IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) or ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection), where a single sperm is injected directly into the egg. The fertilized eggs grow into embryos, and one or more embryos are transferred to your uterus to try for pregnancy.
Egg Freezing FAQs
Is it better to freeze eggs when you’re younger?
Yes. The earlier you freeze your eggs, the better the chances of success later. Eggs collected in the 20s or early 30s are more likely to survive freezing, fertilize, and result in a healthy pregnancy compared to eggs collected in the late 30s or 40s. Many fertility experts recommend freezing before age 35 for the best results.
Why did Priyanka Chopra freeze her eggs?
Priyanka Chopra has openly spoken about freezing her eggs in her early 30s on her doctor’s advice. She said it gave her peace of mind to focus on her career and relationship without pressure. Like many women, she chose egg freezing to maintain control over her fertility timeline.
Can you freeze your eggs in your 20s?
Absolutely. Freezing eggs in your 20s generally provides the highest quality eggs. However, many women may not need it so early unless there are medical concerns (like family history of early menopause, endometriosis, or upcoming cancer treatment). Since the process is costly, some women wait until their late 20s or early 30s to balance quality with practicality.
What is the biggest risk of egg freezing?
The biggest medical risk is OHSS, caused by ovarian stimulation. Though rare, it can require hospitalization. From a practical standpoint, the biggest risk is that frozen eggs may not lead to a successful pregnancy, even if the procedure is done correctly.
What precautions should be taken during egg freezing?
- Monitor cycles closely with scans and blood tests.
- Use safer trigger injections if the risk of OHSS is high.
- Maintain healthy lifestyle habits (diet, sleep, no smoking).
- Choose a certified egg freezing hospital with high lab standards.
How long do frozen eggs last for fertility?
In India, eggs can legally be stored for up to 10 years under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021. Biologically, vitrified eggs can remain viable for many years without major deterioration.
Get Egg Freezing at Apex Hospital
Egg freezing is more than just a medical procedure—it’s an investment in your future, your choices, and your peace of mind. While costs may vary depending on location, clinic, and additional treatments, what truly matters is the expertise and support you receive along the way.
At Apex Hospital in Sirsa, we combine advanced fertility technology with compassionate care to help women make confident decisions about their reproductive health. Whether you’re considering egg freezing now or exploring other fertility options, our specialists are here to guide you with clarity and respect every step of the journey.
Get in touch with us through WhatsApp or call us at 91680 39000 to ask your queries related to today’s topic.
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