Human Reproduction specialists report situations in which egg freezing is the best option to preserve fertility and ensure the dream of having a child
At 33, Juliette FreirBBB 21 champion, revealed in an interview with the newspaper The globe that she plans to raise her family in the future and will resort to egg freezing to preserve fertility: “Until I’m 35 I’ll freeze my eggs and, until I’m 40, I’ll conceive,” she says.
The decision is intelligent, as women experience a real race against time to be able to have children, after all, female fertility is limited: the woman is already born with the number of ova she will have throughout her life. No wonder many women regret not having previously frozen eggs.
It is the case of the influencer Graciele Lacerda: being treated to get pregnant, the bride of Camargo zeze she recently said via her Instagram that her biggest regret is not freezing eggs sooner. And Graciele’s pain is shared by many women.
Luckily, egg freezing is becoming increasingly popular. “Cryopreservation is a freezing technique that can be performed on ova, ovarian tissue, sperm and embryos. At a temperature of -196°C, these structures keep their metabolism completely inactivated, while preserving their vitality. Many couples have the need to conserve gametes for those faced with the immediate impossibility of motherhood or fatherhood, whether by choice or adverse circumstances”explains Dr. Rodrigo Rosahuman reproduction specialist.
Who can perform egg freezing?
The truth is, any woman over the age of 18 can freeze her eggs. However, there are some situations in which the procedure is particularly suitable:
You’re approaching 35
Women are having children later and later for a number of factors, either because they don’t feel ready yet, because they are investing in their career or because they haven’t yet found the right partner. The problem is that around the age of 35 there is a sharp drop in female fertility, with a significant reduction in the chances of successful pregnancies.
“Since a woman is already born with all the eggs she will have throughout her life, there is a decline in the quantity and quality of these cells over the years, which makes fertilization difficult. And even if the woman becomes pregnant, the chance of complications, such as genetic errors and miscarriages, is greater”, explains Dr. Fernando Prado, specialist in Human Reproduction, Fellow of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).
Therefore, egg freezing is a great option for those who wish to postpone pregnancy for personal reasons, increasing the chances of a successful pregnancy when the time comes.
“But it is not necessary to wait for the age of 35 to freeze the eggs. In fact, it is advisable that those who want to freeze their eggs contact a specialist as soon as possible, because the sooner the eggs are frozen, the higher their quality will be and, consequently , the higher the chances of pregnancyadvises the doctor.
You have a family history of early menopause
Occurring after the age of 40, menopause is mainly characterized by the interruption of menstruation, which marks the definitive end of a woman’s reproductive capacity. However, some women may go through menopause early, even before the age of 40, due to the ovaries stopping the production of hormones and eggs.
“Early menopause can have a number of causes, ranging from bad habits, such as smoking, to infectious and autoimmune diseases. But it has a strong genetic factor. Therefore, women with family members who have experienced the first symptoms of menopause should contact to a specialist to carry out an assessment of the ovarian reserve and, if necessary, to freeze the eggs, thus ensuring the possibility of conceiving a child in the future even if they enter menopause before the conventional age”says Dr. Fernando Prado.
You have conditions that can affect your fertility
Numerous diseases can impair a woman’s reproductive capacity. In this sense, endometriosis is among the main causes of female infertility.
“Endometriosis occurs when the cells of the endometrium, the mucous membrane that lines the wall of the uterus, are not adequately expelled during menstruation, spreading through the reproductive system, which hinders the implantation of the fertilized embryo, and also through other regions such as the intestines, appendix and bladder”says Dr. Rodríguez Rosa.
Surgery is one of the therapeutic options, usually indicated when there is no response to clinical treatment or when the disease reaches very advanced stages, causing severe pain, for example.
“Surgical treatment of endometriosis is performed by videolaparoscopy, a minimally invasive procedure that aims to remove foci of endometriosis, improve the anatomy of the reproductive organs and reduce the inflammatory effect of the disease on the functioning of these organs,” says the expert.
However, endometriosis surgery can be a problem for women who still want to get pregnant. “This is because the procedure can have a major impact on fertility, as, depending on the approach, laparoscopy can reduce ovarian reserve by up to 70%, which reflects the woman’s egg supply. In this way, freezing of oocytes is indicated to preserve fertility in women who will undergo the procedure and wish to become pregnant again”adds the doctor.
you have been diagnosed with cancer
Some drugs can also interfere with female fertility, such as radio and chemotherapy, commonly used to fight cancer.
“One of the major complications of chemotherapy is the loss of function of the ovaries, which causes infertility, both permanent and temporary. And, although it is not a priority factor during cancer treatment, fertility can become a major problem for women. after the cure, the disease, especially for those who do not yet have children”warns Dr. Rodríguez Rosa.
“Egg freezing is therefore recommended, as it is very difficult to predict the chances of a woman suffering from infertility after having breast cancer treated, as the impact of cancer treatment on the ovaries will depend on a number of factors, such as the severity of the cancer, the type of chemotherapy used and the patient’s age”complete.
You are undergoing an IVF procedure
The woman can also choose to freeze the eggs during in vitro fertilization, either because the sperm collection was not sufficient to carry out the fertilization at that time, or because more healthy oocytes were collected than necessary for the procedure.
“In the latter case, we can keep the eggs frozen until the woman wants to get pregnant again. And there’s no need to rush because, after undergoing cryopreservation, the eggs remain viable for a long time.” period. intending to have another child, the eggs can still be frozen and donated to other women who are trying to get pregnant but have no viable eggs”, concludes Dr. Fernando Prado.
SOURCES:
*DR. FERNANDO PRADO: Gynecologist, obstetrician and specialist in human reproduction. He is clinical director at Neo Vita and medical coordinator at Embriológica. PhD at the Federal University of São Paulo and Imperial College London, London – United Kingdom. Graduated in Medicine from the Federal University of São Paulo, Member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and of the European Society of Human Reproduction (ESHRE). Whatsapp Neo Vita: 11 5052-1000 / Instagram: @neovita.br / Youtube: Neo Vita – Human Reproduction
*DR. RODRIGO PINK: Obstetrician-gynecologist specialized in Human Reproduction and founding partner and clinical director of the Mater Prime clinic in São Paulo and Mater Lab, the Human Reproduction laboratory. Member of the Brazilian Association of Assisted Reproduction (SBRA) and the Brazilian Society of Human Reproduction (SBRH), the doctor graduated from the Paulista Faculty of Medicine – Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP/EPM). Specialist in human reproduction, the doctor collaborates in the book “Atlas of Human Reproduction” of the Brazilian Society of Human Reproduction. Instagram: @dott.rodrigorosa
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
