What is the ideal age to freeze eggs?
Single females in their 30’s, who understand the natural fertility decline with age, often ask us, “What is the ideal age for me to freeze my eggs?”
Is there a sweet spot? This interesting news release discusses a recent study in Fertility and Sterility that examines the best age for women to freeze their eggs. The answer? The early 30’s (particularly age 31-33) may offer the best chances at increasing your pregnancy chances down the line, while avoiding freezing in your late 20’s when you may not need it.
This particular study utilized decision models based on estimated natural conception rates and pregnancy rates following fertility therapy, across the span of reproductive age.
The take home points from the Fertility and Sterility study:
- Egg freezing increased the chances of a live birth for all ages, assuming attempt at pregnancy 3, 5, or 7 years after egg freeze.
- The highest probability of live birth was seen when egg freezing was performed at ages <34.
- Little benefit was seen at ages 25-30.
- The largest benefit of egg freezing was seen when fertility is delayed after freezing for 7 years.
- Egg freezing was most cost-effective, and provided the greatest improvement in probability of live birth when performed at age 37, and utilized at age 44.
More information: Egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, enables women to preserve their fertility for any of a number of reasons, and is no longer considered experimental since the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Practice Committee statement in 2012.
- Women may undergo egg freezing for medical indications- where timing of egg freezing is based on the medical condition, such as cancer diagnosis
- Women may also undergo egg freezing for social or personal reasons, such as a need or desire to delay childbearing, where timing is less clear.
Learn more about fertility preservation at NRM.
Reference: Mesen TB, et al. Optimal timing for elective egg freezing. Fertility and Sterility. In Press, 2015.
Source: How long should a woman wait to freeze her eggs? | Science/AAAS | News
