Advancements in IVF has enabled more options for women who have difficulty conceiving or want to conceive later in life. Women now have the choice of freezing eggs or freezing embryos. While both procedures are almost similar, they carry their pros and cons. Find out which is more suitable for you in this article.
The key difference between egg freezing and embryo freezing
In egg freezing, the eggs are not fertilised prior to being frozen. No sperm is required which means it is suitable for single women.
When it comes to embryo freezing, the eggs are fertilised first and allowed to grow for several days. At this point, they are now called embryos. Embryos which are of good quality are then frozen. In Singapore, couples have to be married for IVF treatment.
How do egg freezing and embryo freezing compare?
An advantage of egg freezing is the fact that eggs are unfertilised, whereby no sperm is needed. This means that you can preserve your fertility independently and have greater autonomy and have more options in later years.
Embryo freezing also has its advantages. Through fertilisation and culture to embryos, you will readily know the number of usable embryos you have for transfer, in contrast to egg freezing where the outcome is still uncertain, which may lead you to have more eggs frozen. Also, embryos generally survive the freeze-thaw process better than eggs because they consist of more cells. However, thanks to current cryopreservation technology, the survival rates are high and almost comparable, consistent with our experience.
Which is right for you ?
It is not right to say that one approach is the be-all and end-all. The choice of egg freezing and embryo freezing must be tailored to each individual woman. If you would like to learn more about our IVF centre or discuss about freezing eggs or embryos, we’re here to help.
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