In today’s world, more women are choosing to delay motherhood for safeguarding their reproductive autonomy and social equality. But with increasing age, fertility naturally declines, especially after 35. To preserve their chances of having a biological child later in life, many women are now turning to social egg freezing, also known as elective oocyte cryopreservation. This is a preventive fertility option where a woman’s eggs are collected, frozen, and stored when she is younger and her egg quality is higher offering a greater chance of successful pregnancy when she chooses to.
Egg freezing was initially introduced in the late 1990s for young women undergoing cancer treatment, as chemotherapy and radiation could damage their fertility. It is also advised in women with medical conditions like ovarian cysts, chromosomal disorders (e.g., Turner or Fragile X syndrome), or a family history of early menopause. Whereas social egg freezing is done without a medical condition—purely to preserve fertility potential until the woman chooses to become a parent. It also lowers the risk of age-related chromosomal abnormalities.
Today, many women choose to have children after 30. However, egg quality and quantity begin to decline with age, and this reduces the chances of natural conception. Moreover, lower levels of Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH), which reflect a woman’s ovarian reserve, have been observed in younger women too—raising concern among fertility experts.
The younger the woman at the time of egg freezing, the better the chances of success later. Ideally, egg freezing is done between the ages of 25 and 35. Both the age at freezing and the number of eggs stored play a crucial role in determining the chances of a live birth.
The process begins with a consultation and fertility testing, including hormone tests and an ultrasound. After counselling and consent, hormone injections are given for about 10–12 days to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs.
The growth of the follicles is monitored through blood tests and scans. Once mature, the eggs are retrieved through a short day-care procedure done under sedation. They are then frozen using a technique called vitrification and stored in liquid nitrogen until they are needed.
When the woman is ready, the frozen eggs can be fertilised in a lab using her partner’s sperm (or a donor’s), and the resulting embryos can be transferred to the uterus through IVF.
While the procedure is generally safe, some women may experience mild side effects from the hormone injections, such as tiredness, headache, or bloating. Rarely, complications such as bleeding, infection, or ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome may occur.
It’s also important to understand that egg freezing doesn’t eliminate age-related pregnancy risks. Older women, even when using younger eggs, are at higher risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, premature delivery, or needing a C-section.
Kauvery Hospital, Radial Road, adheres to the ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) Regulation Act, India (passed in December 2021), which provides a legal framework to regulate ART services in India. According to this Act, Section 42 ART Act 2021, Page 27, Rule 13 F (i) and (v), it brought a revolutionary change where it explicitly allowed single women, irrespective of marital status, to undergo ART services, including egg freezing and IVF. It mandates informed consent, pre-treatment counselling, confidentiality and record maintenance. It outlines and protects the legal rights of the women and child born through the procedure.
What is egg freezing?
Egg freezing is a method where a woman’s eggs are collected, frozen, and stored at a younger age to preserve fertility for future pregnancy.
Who can benefit from egg freezing?
It is helpful for women delaying motherhood, those undergoing cancer treatments, or those with conditions like ovarian cysts, chromosomal disorders, or a family history of early menopause.
What is the ideal age to freeze eggs?
The best time is between 25 and 35, as younger eggs offer a higher chance of success in future pregnancies.
How does the egg freeze procedure work?
The process includes fertility tests, hormone stimulation, egg retrieval under sedation, and freezing through vitrification for future use in IVF.
What are the risks of egg freezing?
Some may experience mild side effects like bloating or headache. Rare complications include infection, bleeding, or ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.
Is egg freezing legally allowed for single women in India?
Yes. As per the ART Regulation Act 2021, single women can legally undergo egg freezing and IVF with mandatory counselling and consent.
Dr. Lakshmi Srinivasan MBBS, DNB, DGO, MRCOG (London), DRM (Germany), MCG Kauvery Hospital Chennai – Radial Road
Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai (Alwarpet, Radial Road & Vadapalani), Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and paediatric trauma care.
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