Egg freezing is 'no guarantee' of a baby
Charlotte Grant-West
Netmums contributorResearch released today shows that women have as little as a one in five chance of conceiving using frozen eggs.
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The research, announced at the Fertility 2020 conference in Edinburgh, warned women that freezing their eggs shouldn’t be seen as a way to delay motherhood as, in the past 15 years, just 18% of treatments have led to a successful birth.
Egg freezing is the fastest growing fertility treatment in the UK and has become something of a trend. Companies including Google, Apple and Facebook have even offered the treatment to their female employees.
It involves having eggs collected, frozen and stored, so they can be used in a process similar to IVF at a later date.
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Advocates of egg freezing claim it’s a way for women to ensure they can have a child in the future even if they’re not yet ready but this new research suggests otherwise and calls for caution.
The team behind the study, led by Dr Meenakshi Choudhary at Newcastle Fertility Centre, analysed data from the UK’s fertility regulator, the HFEA.
Researchers said: ‘Women seeking to preserve their fertility should be aware that they may have as little as a one in five chance of having a baby later.’
Dr Mariano Mascarenhas from Leeds Fertility, who presented the research, added: ‘the chances of having a baby can improve if eggs are stored early in life.
‘Importantly, the live birth rate using frozen donor eggs was considerably higher, at 31%. Hence for young fit women with no fertility issues, the success of egg freezing may ultimately be much greater.’
However frozen eggs still carry a similar success rate regular IVF so it's still important to spread a message of caution – freezing eggs is not a guarantees 'safety net'.
Celebrities who've openly admitted to freezing their eggs include Rita Ora, Sofia Vergara and Celine Dion.
Comedian Amy Schumer posted on Instagram last night that she is also considering the treatment. She wrote: ‘We are freezing my eggs and figuring out what to do to give Gene a sibling.’
Have you frozen your eggs or considered it as a way to delay motherhood? Tell us in the chat thread below.
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