Egg freezing

Introduction

The introduction of a new technique known as vitrification has now made egg storage a much more realistic option.  In the past eggs have been freeze-stored mainly for 'fertilitity preservation' ahead of cancer treatment - so the reasons have been medical. However, egg freezing is becoming of increasing interest to a number of women who may not be in a secure relationship and choose to put a few eggs in storage for when, and if, the right man comes along.  Putting fertility on hold in this way is egg freezing for social reasons.

Vitrification, which is now employed for the storage of eggs and embryos at the London Women's Clinic Wales, is a technique which cools at a very fast rate, such that the tissue is preserved in a glass-like state (hence 'vitrified') without the formation of damaging ice crystals.  Vitrification is associated with better survival rates for eggs, better fertilisation rates and better embryo development than previous slow-cooling techniques.

Why not egg-share?

Egg freezing can also be carried out in conjunction with the LWC Wales' egg-sharing programme, which enables women under 35 who are freezing their eggs to donate eggs to the egg-sharing programme in order to receive discounted treatment.  As well as being under the age of 35, you will need to be healthy, free from infectious and hereditary diseases, have a BMI of under 30 and not had more than two failed IVF attempts.

Egg-sharing information 

Three cycle package

We, at the London Women's Clinic Wales, feel that fertility treatment needs to be simplified to make it less stressful and financially more affordable.  To facilitate the idea of treatment as a multiple cycle treatment we consider that the three cycle packages we offer can be of benefit for many women.