10 September 2024

Women's Fertility: How Egg Freezing Can Help

Learn how egg freezing can help women's fertility, manage infertility, and increase your chances for getting pregnant later in life.

Key Takeaways

Understanding the biological clock and age-related fertility decline is crucial for women's fertility planning.
Egg freezing offers a proactive approach to preserving fertility and can provide women with more options in the future.
The process of egg freezing involves several steps, including ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, and freezing.
Emotional and psychological aspects of egg freezing should be considered, as it can be a complex and personal decision for women.
Navigating the financial implications of egg freezing is an important aspect to consider, as it can be a significant investment for women.

Understanding Fertility Challenges for Women

When it comes to fertility, women face a range of challenges. In contrast to men, who can produce sperm throughout their lives, women are born with a set number of eggs. This number can and does decline with age. Social pressure may also hold women to certain standards when it comes to timing, and not having a baby "on schedule" can bring about a great deal of anxiety.

Too often, women are made to feel that there's something wrong if they postpone childbearing until after they've achieved a certain level of emotional, financial, and professional stability. In addition, the stigma and taboo that attach to infertility can make it a difficult topic for women to discuss. This lack of open dialogue can further isolate women and prevent them from seeking the support and resources they need to navigate this complex issue.

Fertility always decreases with advancement in age for women, but genes play a significant role in how fast and how soon this decline happens. The ovarian reserve – the number of eggs remaining in the ovaries – declines with each passing year, and no one is certain how or why an individual woman's rate of reserve loss varies. Evidence does show that younger women have less difficulty in achieving pregnancy after suffering some illnesses, such as fibroid tumors, that are more likely to affect a woman's fertility.

In contrast, older women – because their fertility is already affected – find it much more difficult to achieve pregnancy once these same illnesses occur. These are all reasons why many healthcare experts recommend that women who are seriously contemplating future childbearing make a decision by age 35 or so.

Egg Freezing: A Proactive Approach to Preserving Fertility and Preventing Female Infertility

Oocyte cryopreservation, more commonly known as egg freezing, is a technique that allows women to preserve their fertility. The process entails hormonal stimulation of the ovaries, which results in the production of multiple mature oocytes. After retrieval, the eggs are frozen using specialized techniques and stored for future use.

The main benefit of egg freezing is that it allows women to postpone having children without jeopardizing their future fertility. Women can freeze their eggs when they are younger and thus in a better situation in terms of both quantity and quality of eggs. When women use these eggs later in life, they will still have the potential to carry and give birth to a child.

This proactive fertility preservation approach can be highly advantageous for women who are not prepared to start a family for a variety of reasons, whether they are personal, professional, or stem from financial concerns. Egg freezing can allow a woman to feel as if she is maintaining some control over her reproductive choices, letting her focus on her current life goals while also giving her assurance that her eggs—and her potential fertility—will be there when she is ready to use them.

The Process of Egg Freezing: A Step-by-Step Guide

The process of egg freezing typically involves several steps, all of which are carried out under the guidance of experienced fertility specialists.

The first step is ovarian stimulation, where the woman undergoes a series of hormone injections to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs. This is followed by the egg retrieval procedure, during which the eggs are gently extracted from the ovaries using a small, ultrasound-guided needle.

Once the eggs have been retrieved, they are carefully frozen using a process called vitrification, which involves rapidly cooling the eggs to extremely low temperatures to prevent the formation of ice crystals that could damage them. The frozen eggs are then stored in a cryogenic storage facility, where they can be safely preserved for an extended period of time.

When the woman is ready to use her frozen eggs, they are thawed and then fertilized with sperm through the IVF process. The resulting embryos are then transferred back into the woman's uterus, with the goal of achieving a successful pregnancy.

Throughout this entire process, it is crucial for women to work closely with their fertility specialists to ensure that the procedures are carried out safely and effectively. Regular monitoring, personalized treatment plans, and ongoing support from the medical team are essential for achieving the best possible outcomes.

Considerations and Potential Limitations of Egg Freezing and Trying to Conceive

Egg freezing is an increasingly popular choice among young women wishing to preserve their fertility for the future. But while it is a modern and scientifically validated method, it is not a surefire way to achieve a future pregnancy nor is it a way to circumvent present-day infertility.

Clinics that perform the procedure can now boast of excellent egg freezing success rates. It is important to work with a clinic that uses the highest standards of medical care.

There are several possible drawbacks and dangers connected with the process of egg freezing that women must take into consideration. The physical and mental strain of the hormone treatments and the retrieval operation can be taxing. So can the up-front costs of paying for the procedure and the storage of eggs. And, as with all IVF and medical procedures, even if a woman undergoes egg freezing, there is no 100% guarantee of a viable pregnancy.

Women's fertility FAQs

Women's fertility: What is women's fertility and how does it change over time?

Women’s fertility refers to the ability of a woman to conceive and bear children. The capacity to get pregnant is influenced by various factors, including age. Generally, a woman's fertility is at its peak in her early 20s and begins to decline significantly after the age of 30, particularly around age 35. By age 40, this decline becomes more pronounced, making it increasingly challenging to conceive naturally. This age-related decline in fertility can be attributed to a decrease in the quantity and quality of ovarian eggs, affecting the overall probability of achieving a successful pregnancy.

Women's fertility: What are the common causes of infertility in women trying to get pregnant?

Infertility in women can result from a wide range of factors. Some common causes of infertility include issues related to ovulation, such as irregular or absent menstrual cycles, which can be influenced by conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome or endometriosis. Other factors include anatomical problems, such as blocked fallopian tubes due to pelvic inflammatory disease or previous surgeries. Age also plays a critical role, as the quality of a woman’s eggs declines with age, particularly after age 35. Additionally, lifestyle choices, such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, can also affect fertility.

Women's fertility: How does egg freezing work? How does it relate to pregnancy?

Egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, is a process that allows women to preserve their fertility by freezing their eggs for future use. The procedure involves stimulating the ovaries with hormones to produce multiple eggs, which are then retrieved through a minor surgical procedure. Once retrieved, the eggs are frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen. This method provides women, especially those who may be delaying pregnancy for personal or medical reasons, the opportunity to use their eggs later, even if they experience a decline in fertility due to age or health issues.

Women's fertility: What are the benefits of egg freezing? How can it help female infertility?

The primary benefit of egg freezing is the ability to preserve a woman’s ability to conceive later in life, particularly as her age increases and her natural fertility declines. This is particularly advantageous for women who may want to focus on their careers or personal goals before starting a family. Additionally, egg freezing can provide options for women who are facing medical treatments, such as chemotherapy.

All of our blog posts are written, edited, or produced by the London Women's Clinic Content Team. This is a collaboration between our expert writers, health editors, and the leading researchers and senior doctors at our Harley Street clinic.

‘We have two beautiful children - our family wouldn't exist without LWC Brentwood. Can't recommend them highly enough; IVF is an emotional rollercoaster regardless of your journey and we were supported at every step. Pricing is transparent and easy to understand, with payment plans available that made accessing any treatment and medication very flexible and affordable. The clinic became such a part of our lives for that short time, the care and support is so important and LWC Brentwood were brilliant. Maybe we will see them again for number 3!’

Victoria Hayman

10 November 2026, LWC Brentwood

‘I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the entire team for supporting me throughout my IVF journey. I am delighted to share that I had a positive pregnancy test following my very first IVF cycle fresh embryo transfer, and I am now 9 weeks pregnant! The staff at the LWC Colchester satellite clinic are very supportive, approachable and always do their best to help you at every stage of the journey. I would definitely recommend LWC Colchester to anyone considering fertility treatment. A special thank you to Dr Timea Kovats, a highly experienced, knowledgeable and to the wonderful staff Jackie, Annette, Tracey. Their excellent guidance, expertise, care and supportive approach played a significant role in making my first IVF cycle successful. I am truly grateful for their dedication, encouragement and support throughout this journey. I am equally grateful to all the staff at Colchester satellite clinic and the London main clinic for their care and support throughout the entire process. Thank you once again for helping us achieve such a special milestone in our lives. We will always be grateful for your support! ❤️’

jigu

10 November 2026, LWC Colchester

‘Friendly, experienced and professional team. Supported throughout the entire process and would highly recommend.’

Mizzee West

10 November 2026, LWC Brighton

‘The nursing team are so friendly and so supportive. Made everything so much better and easier to go through egg freezing.’

Megan Godber

10 November 2026, LWC Brighton

‘We had a great experience as the team here are very knowledgeable and caring and they made us feel taken care of throughout! Big shout out to Rute & Trianni for their care and support 😊’

Chiamaka Nelson

9 November 2026, LWC Cambridge

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Aruna Nelson

9 November 2026, LWC Cambridge

‘They've given us wonderful service very easy to be around. Very good communication, and very good at helping us out with everything they've done so far.’

Jessica Norman

9 November 2026, LWC Oxford

‘We had a fantastic experience with LWC, Dr Rimington’s passion and expertise were second to none and we strongly believe that he is the reason for our success. All the staff were lovely, helpful and kind - we will definitely use LWC again’

Hannah Hale

9 November 2026, LWC Brighton

‘I honestly cannot recommend this fertility clinic highly enough. From the very beginning, the care, compassion and support we received were absolutely exceptional. Going through fertility treatment is an incredibly emotional journey, with so many ups and downs, but the team made us feel supported, listened to and genuinely cared for every step of the way. Nothing ever felt like too much trouble, and every member of staff we encountered was kind, understanding, professional and reassuring. What really stood out was how personal the experience felt. We never felt like just another number. The team took the time to answer our questions, put our minds at ease and guide us through what can sometimes feel like an overwhelming process. We are incredibly grateful for everything they have done for us and will never forget the part they have played in helping us grow our family. We now have our little miracles, and we couldn't be more thankful. If you're considering fertility treatment, I would wholeheartedly recommend LWC. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping make our dream come true! ❤️’

Emma Hayman

8 November 2026, LWC Brentwood

‘Had a really positive experience visiting the Oxford Clinic. Nurse Manager Liv, took time to make me us feel at ease and explained how the appointment will go. Thank you!’

Kinga Arcana-Jones

7 November 2026, LWC Oxford

‘Everyone my partner and I have interacted with at the Oxford clinic has been warm, friendly and knowledgeable. They’ve really helped make a very daunting process easier to go through and I’m very glad we chose this clinic!’

Jess Palmer

5 November 2026, LWC Oxford

‘Very friendly staff and a lovely inclusive environment, had a wonderful experience here. Highly recommend for anyone looking at fertility preservation.’

T Ilagan

5 November 2026, LWC Oxford

‘As an LGBTQ couple we found LWC Colchester incredibly supportive, no question was too much. They were friendly and welcoming, with modern facilities, and made your journey feel very personalised. We would highly recommend them for your fertility journey.’

Jasmine Colman

5 November 2026, LWC Colchester

‘A massive thank you to Dom and Dr Vasquez for all of their help throughout the process!’

James Purcell

5 November 2026, LWC Tunbridge Wells

‘Me and my husband can’t thank everyone at London Women’s Clinic enough for all the care and support throughout our recent treatment. Everything went really well, and we are so grateful to all the doctors and the entire team for looking after me. A special thank you to Mimi, Dr Barbara, Caroline, Trina and Elena from Embryology team and the Theatre Team - Rose, Martin and Amy F. Everyone was so kind, helpful and reassuring, and it really made a difference. Thank you all for everything. ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️’

IsadelandCyril

4 November 2026, LWC Harley Street

‘I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the entire team who supported us throughout our IVF treatment. ❤️ A special thank you to Ana-Maria,our nurse, for her kindness, patience, compassion and professionalism. She was always so caring, understanding and supportive, making us feel reassured and comfortable during such an emotional and challenging journey. We would also like to thank Dr Gill from the bottom of our hearts for his professionalism, dedication, expertise and the confidence he gave us throughout the entire process. IVF is not just a medical treatment; it is an emotional journey filled with hope, challenges and many feelings. Having such wonderful people by our side made everything so much easier. Thank you for your care, support and dedication. We truly appreciate everything you have done for us and would wholeheartedly recommend you to anyone beginning their IVF journey. Thank you for being part of our journey! ❤️’

Alexandru Predescu

3 November 2026, LWC Harrow

‘I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the entire team who supported us throughout our IVF treatment. ❤️ A special thank you to Ana-Maria,our nurse, for her kindness, patience, compassion and professionalism. She was always so caring, understanding and supportive, making us feel reassured and comfortable during such an emotional and challenging journey. We would also like to thank Dr Gill from the bottom of our hearts for his professionalism, dedication, expertise and the confidence he gave us throughout the entire process. IVF is not just a medical treatment; it is an emotional journey filled with hope, challenges and many feelings. Having such wonderful people by our side made everything so much easier. Thank you for your care, support and dedication. We truly appreciate everything you have done for us and would wholeheartedly recommend you to anyone beginning their IVF journey. Thank you for being part of our journey! ❤️’

Mihaela-Clemansa Predescu

3 November 2026, LWC Harrow

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Ramachandran Jeyamohan

3 November 2026, LWC Colchester

‘I feel so blessed and grateful to have been under the lovely nurse Katie and Dr Kovats’s care. Everyone I encountered in the clinic on or off line was friendly, reassuring, thoughtful, and patient with me. I could feel the genuine care from Katie and Dr Kovats. I feel very reassured knowing they'd be there with me every step of the way; it is a great relief to have medical professionals like them on my side. They listened attentively, were reassuring, explained what I need to know thoroughly and were very approachable. Thank you to Carina, the friendly clinic coordinator, for always answering my emails promptly and being so helpful with all the questions I threw at her. Also, to the lovely staff member with blonde hair (I’m so sorry I forgot your name!) who did the ultrasound scan, thank you for being so attentive and making me feel relaxed. The clinic has a calm, relaxing vibe and is very clean. I have had a wonderful experience with the clinic and would highly recommend the team to anyone on their fertility journey!’

T Yang

3 November 2026, LWC Brentwood

‘We have used London Women's Clinic twice in the last two years for successful egg retrieval and two subsequent frozen embryo transfers. We have always been met with care, compassion and a personal approach. Every step from the initial consultation right through to the 7 week scan has been professional and polite, always accommodating our needs and timings. We can't thank the team enough for giving us such support towards creating our family.’

Lucy Richards

2 November 2026, LWC Tunbridge Wells

‘Myself and my husband owe it all to london womens clinic, they were amazing from start to finish. We previously were under another clinic and decided to make the change due to many reasons and we are so glad we did. They treat everyone as individuals, not everyones fertility journeys are the same. The small team at Colchester make it so personable not to mention how amazing all 4 women are that work here, their knowledge empathy and listening skills simply cannot be found at any other clinic. The list goes on as to why I would recommend LWC but everyone likes a to the point review. They genuinely care they dont treat you like a number and they help you through every hurdle that occurs. Our little boy wouldn't be possible without these 4, each of them play a bigger part than they realise. 💙’

Ellen Turrell

2 November 2026, LWC Colchester

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Yasmine Mora

30 October 2026, LWC London Bridge

‘I couldn’t speak more highly of the London Women’s Clinic Oxford! From the moment you walk in you are greeted with such a warm welcome. The reception area is bright and welcoming and the receptionist is lovely. All of the staff are so friendly, helpful and polite. Going through this journey can be emotional, so having such a wonderful supportive, caring clinic to visit makes all the difference. Everyone goes above and beyond to make you feel comfortable and looked after. I feel so lucky to have such a lovely team supporting me along the way. Thank you all! 🍀💗’

Louise

30 October 2026, LWC Oxford

‘Incredible service and professionals. They made me feel comfortable and safe the entire journey. Thank you!’

Luciana Lombardi

30 October 2026, LWC Cambridge

‘I had an absolutely amazing experience at LWC from start to finish! There are literally no wait times so we were able to get started pretty much straight away after consultation. The process was seamless, with a lot of flexibility if you need to change appt time. Nurses are amazing and so supportive. Special shout out to Kate and Chris who were so kind and made the whole experience so much better. Also the nurses on the ward were absolutely amazing but I can’t remember their names. I’m now discharged as I’m pregnant from my first try! However I will look forward to returning in the future for my second embryo which is currently frozen 😊’

Kathryn Jessica

27 October 2026, LWC Bromley