The introduction of IVF treatment has enabled childless couples to have a child of their own. This treatment has opened doors for them who desired to have babies of their own genes.
A number of egg donors are available who donate eggs for fertility programs. Apart from the fact that the couple is not able to produce a quality egg, there can be medical or material situations where the couple is not able to naturally fertilize the egg to form an embryo.
Women at the age of 42 on an average suffer from significantly diminished egg quantity and quality (poor ovarian reserve). Women require egg donation due to the following reasons:
1. Menopause or premature ovarian failure
2. Production of low-quality eggs
3. Poor response to the procedure of ovarian stimulation to produce multiple quality eggs
4. An elevated level of day 3 follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
5. Low antral follicle counts recorded during an ultrasound
6. Advanced female age over 39 to 40 years
Study and Research for Intended Parents
For all such situations, embryologists use frozen eggs to carry out the IVF procedure. Now, this is one big scope of study and research for intended parents before they agree to such arrangements. There is a big myth prevailing amongst the intended parents regarding the responsiveness of frozen eggs. Some consider fresh eggs to be of greater utility over frozen ones, and hence, requests for fresh eggs usage in fertilization. But, the actual truth is that there is no difference in the quality of eggs noticed even after freezing it. The method of freezing the eggs does not affect their quality in any which way. Those are cryopreserved for a definite amount of time for future use.
There have been several studies published over the past few years that scrutinize and explore whether the transfer of fresh or frozen eggs results in higher success rates in IVF pregnancy. Also, there have been various studies on which transfer type is associated with healthier development for babies and mothers.
Frozen Egg Transfers – A Long-Term Trend
In recent times, most IVF programs have stopped fresh egg transfers and are exclusively executing frozen egg transfers. Different IVF agencies in the United States have also slowly moved towards more frozen egg transfer than fresh transfers. This might become a long-term trend to help couples achieve the most successful outcomes of surrogacy treatment.
There are major economic and time benefits that can be achieved by using frozen eggs. It quickens the method of IVF cycle for a particular program. Couples do not have to frequently visit the fertility clinic to supply eggs and, thus, save on travel expenses.
The last decade has witnessed a maximum number of frozen eggs usage in the IVF treatment. More couples have been educated on the advantages they can get by using frozen eggs. Since there is no difference in the responsive nature of the eggs after cryopreservation, couples have been using the procedure to save both money and time.
Prevalent Myth
There have been many studies made on the subject of the utility of fresh or frozen eggs. Due to the prevalent myth, many intended couples deny frozen eggs. However, they should be properly educated on the fact that there is no significant difference in the success of pregnancy due to the application of fresh or frozen eggs. Couples experiencing failure in pregnancy development from their cultured embryo with the application of frozen eggs, consider it to be the prime reason for such failure. But the actual reason for the failure can be many other factors and not the frozen eggs. It plays the same role that the fresh eggs would have played.
As fertility experts, obstetricians put forward the facts of using frozen eggs to the couples. Rest in on them to choose the procedure they are more satisfied to go for. The responsibility of the IVF specialists is to put forward the actual figures of success that even the frozen eggs have brought in this field. Time has changed and more couples have inclined towards the application of frozen eggs to achieve the best utility of their time, money and patience.