Fertility Preservation: Empowering Reproductive Choices
Advances in reproductive medicine have made fertility preservation more accessible and successful than ever before. Whether for medical reasons or personal choice, women now have multiple options to preserve their fertility.
Fertility Preservation Methods
- Egg Freezing (Oocyte Cryopreservation): The most common method for women
- Embryo Freezing: For women with partners or using donor sperm
- Ovarian Tissue Freezing: Experimental option for prepubertal girls or urgent cases
- Ovarian Suppression: During cancer treatment
Who Should Consider Fertility Preservation?
- Women facing cancer treatment
- Those with endometriosis or other conditions affecting fertility
- Women planning to delay childbearing
- Transgender individuals before gender-affirming treatment
- Those with family history of early menopause
Success Rates and Considerations
Success rates for fertility preservation have improved dramatically:
- Egg freezing success rates now comparable to fresh eggs
- Vitrification technique has improved survival rates to over 90%
- Age at freezing is the most important factor for success
The Process
Typical fertility preservation involves:
- Initial consultation and testing
- Ovarian stimulation (10-14 days)
- Egg retrieval procedure
- Freezing and storage
Cost and Insurance
While costs vary, many insurance plans now cover fertility preservation for medical reasons. Some employers are also adding elective fertility preservation to their benefits packages.
