Are you planning a family, but the timing isn’t quite right? Social freezing, or egg freezing, allows you to preserve your fertility for the future and increase your chances of pregnancy when you feel ready to conceive. How does this process work, and who is it suitable for?
How Does Social Freezing Work?
Social freezing is the preventive freezing of your healthy eggs or sperm for future use. The process itself is similar to IVF treatment – it involves hormonal stimulation and daily medication for about 11 days. After that, the eggs are retrieved in a short procedure under local or general anesthesia.
The next step is cryopreservation, which involves freezing the eggs in liquid nitrogen at extremely low temperatures (-196 °C). Up to 95% of frozen cells can be successfully thawed, with the ideal number for future use being around 20 eggs. However, it's important to remember that even social freezing cannot guarantee pregnancy. The likelihood of success decreases with age, so it’s crucial to consider this option promptly.
Who Is Social Freezing Suitable For?
Egg freezing is an ideal choice for women who want to preserve their fertility for the future, whether for personal, professional, or medical reasons. This option is most often chosen by women who:
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Currently do not have a long-term partner but wish to have children in the future.
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Want to focus on their careers or other life goals.
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Want to ensure they preserve high-quality eggs even at a later age.
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Have a family history of premature menopause or other health factors affecting fertility.
A woman can have her eggs thawed and fertilized with her partner's or a donor's sperm in the future. The general rule is: the sooner a woman decides on social freezing, the better. The quality of eggs decreases with age and drops sharply after the age of 35, reducing the chances of natural conception.
When Is the Best Time to Freeze Eggs?
There is no clear answer to when is the best time to freeze eggs. In general, however, the earlier, the better – eggs lose quality with age, which can reduce the chances of a successful pregnancy.
A study conducted between 2010 and 2016 showed that younger women are less likely to return to using their frozen eggs. The reason is simple – they often conceive naturally. On the other hand, women over thirty with already diagnosed fertility issues use social freezing more often as a preventive measure. (Source: Egg Donation Friends)
How Does Social Freezing Work at Unica?
At Unica, we emphasize an individualized approach and comprehensive diagnostics. Before we proceed with egg cryopreservation, we assess key factors affecting fertility:
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AMH Level (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) – an indicator of ovarian reserve.
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Vitamin D, DHEA, and AFC (Antral Follicle Count) – influencing egg quality.
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Smoking and BMI, which can negatively impact fertility.
Thanks to modern methods and our top specialists, we offer a safe and effective process for preserving fertility.
Your Future, Your Choice
Unica helps you maintain the possibility of becoming a mother – whenever you decide to take that step. Social freezing is a proven method we perform daily – and we are happy to help you find out if it’s the right choice for you.
Book a free consultation and take the first step towards preserving your fertility. 💛
