Elective Egg Freezing

What is Egg Freezing?

Egg freezing (Elective Egg Freezing), also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a fertility preservation option that involves the collection and storage of a woman’s eggs for potential future use through a planned clinical process.

To help assess whether elective egg freezing may be a suitable option, it may be helpful to reflect on the following questions:

• Do you wish to have children in the future?
• How many children would you like to have, and when do you hope to start a family?
• How old are you currently?

 

Age Eligibility in Singapore

In Singapore, elective egg freezing is permitted for women aged 21 to 37 years, in accordance with Ministry of Health (MOH) regulations. Eligibility and suitability are assessed during consultation.

 

Who May Consider Egg Freezing?

Some women may consider egg freezing as part of their reproductive planning, based on personal or medical considerations.

This may include women who:

• Are single and in their late 20s or early 30s, and wish to understand their fertility options for the future
• Are married but not currently planning a pregnancy and would like to explore fertility preservation
• Have medical conditions and need to undergo medical treatments, such as chemotherapy, that may affect ovarian function. Fertility preservation may be considered before starting treatment, following advice from their oncologist.

If you are considering egg freezing in Singapore, you may be wondering what the process involves, and how it may fit into your life plans. The overview below help you better understand the egg freezing process and support informed decision-making about your reproductive future.

 

Egg Freezing Process at Alpha IVF Singapore

Step 1: Consultation and Fertility Assessment

The first step is to have the initial consultation our fertility specialist to review medical history and discuss suitability for egg freezing. Fertility assessments such as pelvic ultrasound, blood tests including Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH), to evaluate your ovarian reserve and overall reproductive health. This step helps the doctor to determine the most appropriate approach for your personalised treatment plan.

 

Step 2: Ovarian Stimulation

Once you are cleared and decided to proceed, the next step involves ovarian stimulation. You will start the hormone injections over a period of 10 to 14 days averagely, to help your ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Follicle development is monitored through ultrasound scans and blood tests over approximately two to three follow-up visits and allow our doctor to adjust medication if necessary.

 

Step 3: Egg Retrieval

When your eggs are ready for collection, they are retrieved through a minor surgical procedure performed under light sedation. During the procedure, a thin needle is inserted through the vaginal wall to retrieve the eggs. This procedure typically takes less than an hour, and you can return home on the same day to rest.

 

Step 4: Freezing

Once the eggs are retrieved, mature eggs are frozen using a technique called vitrification, which is a rapid freezing method to help preserve the eggs’ quality for future use.

 

Step 5: Storage

Frozen eggs are stored in specialised cryopreservation tanks until you are ready to use them. The eggs can be kept for many years, allowing you to have the flexibility to pursue pregnancy when the time is right for you.

 

What to Know Before Deciding on Egg Freezing

As with any medical procedure, egg freezing involves considerations that are important to understand. Taking time to review these factors can help support informed decision-making.

Key considerations include:

• Individual medical suitability and response to treatment may vary
• The number of eggs retrieved and the number of eggs suitable for storage may differ between individuals
• Egg freezing does not guarantee a future pregnancy
• Personal and future family planning considerations

 

Egg freezing is generally more effective at younger ages, as both egg quantity and quality naturally decline over time. Freezing eggs earlier may provide more options in the future, but outcomes can vary between individuals, so it is important to note that egg freezing does not guarantee pregnancy. We encourage women who are considering egg freezing to undergo a fertility assessment and discuss their individual suitability and options with the doctor.

 

* click here if you would like to know more about fertility assessment and plan for your egg freezing journey.