Preparing to Freeze Your Eggs
When a woman knows she would like children someday but the timing simply isn't right, or she is faced with an illness that could impact her ability to conceive later on, she may want to consider egg freezing. Egg freezing helps women preserve their young, healthy eggs for later use in life when the timing is right. Before eggs can be frozen, it is important to take steps to prepare for the process of egg freezing and to help increase treatment success. For more information about preparing to freeze your eggs, contact our Omaha, NE practice, Heartland Center for Reproductive Medicine.
What Age Is Best to Prepare for Egg Freezing?
The generally recommended timeframe for a woman to freeze her eggs is during her reproductive prime, between her 20s to early 30s. It is during these ages that a woman's eggs are typically greatest in number and at their healthiest.
Preparing for Egg Freezing
Before egg freezing takes place, some preparation is needed. In most cases, preparation includes fertility testing and blood screening. Ovarian reserve testing may be performed to determine the quantity of eggs a woman produces as well as the quality of the eggs.
The concentration of certain hormones, including estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone, may also be measured on the third day of a woman's menstrual cycle through a blood test. The concentration of these hormones can help determine how the ovaries will respond to fertility medication. Blood tests may also be done to screen for infectious diseases, specifically HIV. An ultrasound of the ovaries may also be performed to further assess ovarian function.
The process to test fertility prior to undergoing the egg freezing procedure usually requires a woman to complete two menstrual cycles, which means it can take two to three months before the egg freezing process actually begins. By evaluating egg production through two menstrual cycles, the fertility doctor will have a better idea of how a particular woman's ovaries function and how many eggs are typically available during a cycle.
Preparing Your Body
In general, the better a patient's health is, the better prepared she will be for egg freezing. Taking care of yourself in the months leading up to the egg freezing procedure can help your body prepare for treatment as well as encourage fertility health.
- Eat a healthy diet and exercise: Eating a healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins; avoiding processed foods and sugars; and a regular exercise routine can help maintain a healthy weight and promote overall health.
- Give up smoking and limit alcohol: Women who smoke should quit a minimum of three months prior to undergoing egg freezing, but the earlier they stop the better. Drinking alcoholic beverages should be limited and those with alcohol dependency should seek treatment before undergoing egg freezing.
- Reduce stress: Stress can impact the body in a number of ways, causing the body to feel fatigued or overwhelmed. Practice stress-reducing activities, like yoga, walking, reading, or meditation, to reduce stress before freezing your eggs.
Schedule a Consultation
Freezing your eggs now can help you conceive in the future, when conditions are right or you're ready to be a parent. To learn more about egg freezing or other fertility treatments, we welcome you to schedule a consultation today.
