Gone are the hypes over stem cell treatments. The new buzz is EGG FREEZING. Female eggs. Not the male beklogs.
In Spain, it’s becoming a trend for single women from ages 30 – 40 to freeze their eggs for future pregnancy. Because of active careers and / not finding the right one, women can now have the option to store their eggs while not worrying about outright pregnancy.
20% heterosexuals
5% homosexuals
95% freeze their eggs in anticipation of aging.
—————————————————————————-
In the Philippines, affluent and successful women from the age group of 30 – 37 are now looking into storing their eggs. It gives them less pressure to find Mister Right before their biological clocks expire.
Here are some info I gathered from the lectures at St. Luke’s Hospital:
BACKGROUND:
Year:
1986 First successful frozen eff thawing (abroad)
1987 – 2000 Only 1/100 resulted in live birth, the survival rate of the frozen eggs was only 5-20% during that period
2001—– more studies were made and egg freezing were commonly done in other countries
2010 vitrification of eggs was implemented and accepted
2012—- The American Medical Society accepted and recognized eff freezing as an alternative reproductive procedure in medicine.
2015 – present
Social Egg Freezing has become popular for future reproductive use and freedom of choice and flexibility. Women are given the chance to postpone pregnancy. There is no requirement to have a partner or a husband to have the eggs frozen.
WHAT IS EGG FREEZING?
It’s a procedure to preserve women’s eggs for future transfer to an ovary for fertilization at a later date.
A woman’s monthly cycle (menstruation) or ovulation only produces on mature egg per month. A woman must have several of those eggs for successful future use.
EGG FREEZING FOR MEDICAL REASONS:
For cancer patients, those undergoing chemotherapy.
NON-MEDICAL REASONS:
Healthy women who want to postpone pregnancy. Or those single women who don’t have a partner yet or husband.
BASIS FOR ELECTIVE EGG FREEZING:
1. Gradual decline of fertility due to aging specially for those who are 38 year old and above.
2. Decline in egg quantity beginning from age 37 and up.
3. Qualitative decline and poor quality of embryos as women ages
4. Aneuploidies and eggs as you grow older— there are more abnormalities in the exchange of chromosomes. Aneuploidies increase in rapid acceleration at age 35 and up.
SOCIAL TRENDS
The age of marriage of a woman is pushed back by about 4 years.
The first pregnancy is postponed
Due to older women getting married, there’s a higher chance of infertility.
PROCESS A WOMAN WILL GO THROUGH IN EGG FREEZING:
1. Counselling and preliminary testing to properly evaluate if woman is qualified.
a) Weight
b) Blood test
c) Ultrasound
d) Consent — you have to sigh a contract with the hospital that will store your eggs. You also need to give written instructions in the event of your death (what the hospital will do with your stored eggs). If they will destroy them or your relative will decide on your behalf.
2. Inc case she passes the criteria, the next step is
Hormonal Stimulation
Starting on the second day of your menstruation, you will be given a hormonal injection. The doctors will monitor your condition every 3 days.
They will try to get 10-15 follicles. Once the maximum number is reached, they will go to number 3
3. Egg retrieval— You will be placed under heavy sedation. The procedure requires a 30-60 minutes outpatient procedure. After 2-3 hours in the recovery room, the woman can go home.
4. Vitrification
The doctors will identify potential viable eggs. The eggs shall be stored in tanks with nitrogen and you can keep them there indefinitely.
to be continued.
