When I first mentioned my decision to freeze my eggs to my mother, she responded with typical British humour: "So my grandchildren are going to be stored next to some Häagen-Dazs?" Her quip highlighted how unfamiliar this process remains for many, despite its growing popularity across the United Kingdom.
I'm part of a significant trend - according to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the UK's fertility industry regulator, there has been a staggering 170% increase in egg freezing cycles between 2019 and 2023. While the technology has existed since the 1980s, it became more accessible in the 2000s with vitrification, a flash-freezing technique that revolutionised the process.
The Reality Behind the Procedure
Many women, including myself, approach egg freezing with limited understanding of what it truly involves. The process essentially represents the first half of an IVF cycle. Your ovaries receive hormonal stimulation to encourage overproduction of follicles, each containing a single egg. Once these follicles mature, the eggs are retrieved under sedation and frozen for future use.
When you're ready to use them, they're warmed, mixed with sperm, and transferred to your womb - exactly as with conventional IVF treatment. This realisation often comes as a surprise to many women who don't initially connect egg freezing with the broader IVF pathway.
Managing Expectations and Success Rates
One of the most crucial facts to understand is that frozen eggs don't guarantee a future child. Professor Melanie Davies, a senior consultant gynaecologist at University College London Hospitals' reproductive medicine unit, emphasises: "You've got to be prepared that it may not be successful."
Some eggs may not survive freezing, let alone thawing, fertilisation or embryo transfer. Dr Zeynep Gurtin, a lecturer at UCL's Institute for Women's Health, advises approaching egg freezing as an addition to your reproductive options rather than a guarantee. Age plays a critical role in success rates, with younger women typically achieving better outcomes due to higher egg quality.
Research indicates that women aged 35-37 need to freeze approximately 15 eggs to have a 70% chance of a single live birth. Another study suggests a 37-year-old would need 20 frozen eggs for a 75% likelihood. However, Professor Joyce Harper from UCL cautions that this isn't just a numbers game - female fertility involves multiple factors including egg quantity, quality and womb health.
The Practical Realities and Hidden Costs
The HFEA estimates that egg freezing and thawing costs between £7,000 and £8,000, but many women find themselves paying more. Luzia Bruckamp, an Oxford PhD student who documented her journey, paid £6,700 for her first round after being quoted a lower price initially.
Many clinics provide initial quotes that exclude additional expenses like blood tests, scans and medication, which can range from £500 to £1,500. Building a financial buffer into your budget is essential, as is getting final quotes for everything in writing.
The time commitment often exceeds expectations too. My process spanned two months after my initial cycle was abandoned due to poor response to ovarian stimulation. A single cycle typically requires two weeks of daily hormone injections, followed by regular scans to monitor follicle growth. You'll need to attend your clinic around four times over 11 days, plus take time off for the egg retrieval procedure.
Navigating the Emotional and Physical Journey
Most women adapt surprisingly quickly to self-injecting hormones. As fertility consultant Wael Saab explains, "Most fertility injections are subcutaneous - they go in the fat under the skin and are short needles." The injections occur in the lower abdomen and are generally less painful than intramuscular vaccinations.
Lifestyle adjustments are necessary during treatment. Intense exercise must be avoided to reduce the risk of ovarian torsion, a rare but serious complication. Medical experts stress that a healthy lifestyle - balanced diet, adequate sleep and moderate exercise - proves more important than expensive supplements.
Professor Davies recommends avoiding cigarettes, recreational drugs, alcohol and vaping. If considering supplements, vitamin D, folic acid and coenzyme Q10 may be beneficial. She also advises coming off hormonal contraception before treatment, as this typically improves response and yields more eggs.
The emotional aspect often catches women by surprise. Michelle, who froze her eggs in London in 2022, describes confronting questions about relationship status and future plans. Building a support network through friends, family or online communities like the Egg Freezing Support Community on Facebook can provide crucial emotional backing during this challenging process.
While egg freezing offers hope for extending fertility options, approaching it with realistic expectations and thorough preparation makes the journey more manageable and less daunting for British women considering this important reproductive choice.
