Have you been hearing a lot about egg freezing lately?
This should come as no surprise because it’s one of the fastest growing procedures in the world.
Experts estimate that the number of women freezing their eggs will grow from 5,000 in 2013 to 76,000 by 2018.
The truth is that women are now paying much closer attention to the signs of infertility. As a result, there is a lot of information, both true and false, swirling around about this procedure.
This article covers a few of the biggest misconceptions about egg freezing.
Keep reading to find out what’s flat-out wrong!
Myth 1: It Doesn’t Matter When You Freeze Your Eggs
Despite what hearsay you may run into, the younger you freeze your eggs, the better.
Why?
Because the eggs of younger women stand a better chance of surviving the entire process.
Therefore, if you’re going to freeze your eggs, you should do so before the age of 35, preferably in your mid 20’s. This will maximize your odds of having a successful outcome.
Myth 2: You Cannot Return to Work the Day After the Procedure
The process of freezing eggs can seem like a mystery to many.
As a result, women often believe that they will miss several days of work after completing the procedure.
While there is discomfort, this is an outpatient procedure and does not entail high levels of sedation.
This means that the vast majority of women can indeed go back to work the following day.
Myth 3: Egg Freezing is Nothing More than an Experimental Procedure
You’ll often hear that the process of freezing eggs is experimental and lacks safety
This is completely false.
The truth is that the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASMR) tabled the procedure “experimental” at some point.
However, the ASMR removed the experimental label from the procedure in 2012. After careful research, they concluded that not only is the procedure safe, but new advancements made it more effective too.
Myth 4: Freezing Your Eggs Speeds Up Infertility
Somehow, the idea that the process of freezing eggs makes you run out of eggs faster gets kicked around often.
To the relief of many, it’s completely untrue.
In fact, the eggs that the doctors use for the procedure would’ve been eggs that the patient never uses. The body actually picks from between 10-20 eggs per month.
Therefore, there is no reason to worry about running out of eggs more quickly due to this procedure.
Myth 5: Frozen Eggs Don’t Last Long
For many people, egg freezing seems too good to be true. They’re told by friends or family that frozen eggs will lose viability quickly.
While this topic does require more research, as the procedure is relatively young, most eggs will be fine after 5 years. In some cases, eggs have lasted for more than 10 years.
Most experts believe that eggs will last as long as they’re stored at a constant, optimal temperature.
Final Thoughts
When anything gets popular, there are bound to be countless myths surrounding it.
Fortunately, you’re now armed with some knowledgeable information.
That said, there are too many myths to cover in just one article.
Always do your research before taking anything at face value. Also, make sure you ask your doctor plenty of questions during your consultation.
If you’re interested in discussing egg freezing with professionals, request an appointment today!