Career goals, financial stability, relationships, marriage, motherhood, and the constant pressure of the 'biological clock' mean that fertility decisions for many women today are deeply personal, emotional, and often overwhelming.
As more women choose to delay pregnancy for professional, medical, or personal reasons, conversations around fertility preservation are also becoming increasingly common. Among the options gaining attention is egg freezing, a medical procedure that allows women to preserve their eggs for future use and extend their reproductive choices beyond age-related fertility decline.
Often described as a way to pause the biological clock, egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, has emerged as an important fertility preservation technique in recent years.
According to the World Health Organisation, around 17.5 per cent of the adult population globally, nearly 1 in 6 people, experience infertility at some point in their lives, highlighting the growing need for accessible fertility care and awareness.
At the same time, research from India also points towards a rising interest in elective egg freezing. A 2023 retrospective study analysed six years of data between 2017 and 2023 from women who underwent oocyte cryopreservation. The study found that the average age at egg freezing was 33.38 years, while the average age at implantation was 36.48 years. Researchers observed that, on average, around 10 oocytes were retrieved per patient, and higher survival and fertilisation rates were recorded in certain age groups after thawing. The study concluded that elective egg freezing has emerged as a valuable option for fertility preservation.
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To understand how egg freezing actually works, whether the procedure is painful, what factors affect success rates, the costs involved, and some of the most common myths surrounding fertility preservation, we spoke to Dr Akanksha Goel, Fertility Specialist at Nova IVF Fertility, Kolkata, and Dr Amitha N, Consultant – Fertility & IVF Specialist at Motherhood Fertility & IVF, Electronic City, Bengaluru.
What is egg freezing?
According to Dr Akanksha Goel, egg freezing, medically known as mature oocyte cryopreservation, is a fertility preservation technique in which a woman’s eggs are collected, frozen, and stored for possible future pregnancy.
She explained that the process usually begins with hormonal injections that stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs during a single menstrual cycle. “Once the eggs mature, they are retrieved through a minimally invasive procedure and frozen using a rapid-freezing technique called vitrification, which helps preserve egg quality,” she said.
Dr Goel noted that while egg freezing was initially developed for women undergoing cancer treatment or medical therapies that could affect fertility, it is now increasingly being chosen for personal and social reasons as well. However, she stressed that the procedure should not be viewed as a guaranteed 'insurance policy' for pregnancy. “Egg freezing can expand future reproductive options, but success depends on factors such as the age at which the eggs are frozen and the overall reproductive health of the individual,” she added.
Why are more women choosing egg freezing?
Dr Goel said that many women today are opting for egg freezing due to a combination of personal, professional, and medical reasons. Delayed motherhood, linked to career goals, financial stability, higher education, or not having found the right partner, are among the most common reasons driving interest in fertility preservation.
“At the same time, awareness about age-related fertility decline has increased significantly, encouraging women to explore ways to preserve their reproductive choices,” she explained.
On the medical side, she noted that egg freezing is often recommended for women undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, ovarian surgeries, or those diagnosed with conditions such as endometriosis or autoimmune disorders that may affect ovarian reserve. According to her, there is also a broader shift toward reproductive autonomy, where women increasingly see fertility preservation as a proactive decision rather than a last resort.
When is the ideal age to freeze eggs?
According to Dr Goel, the ideal time for egg freezing is generally during the late 20s to early 30s, when both egg quality and ovarian reserve are considered to be at their best. She explained that fertility naturally declines with age, especially after 35, due to a reduction in both the number and quality of eggs.
“Freezing eggs at a younger age can improve the chances of preserving healthier eggs and may lead to better pregnancy outcomes in the future,” she said.
However, she emphasised that the decision should remain highly individualised and based on factors such as personal goals, medical history, and ovarian reserve testing. Dr Goel added that doctors often recommend fertility assessments such as Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) testing and antral follicle count scans before making a decision. While egg freezing can still be performed after 35, she noted that women may require multiple cycles to retrieve an adequate number of healthy eggs, and overall success rates may gradually decline with increasing age.
Procedure, pain, and the cost involved
Dr Goel explained that the egg-freezing process typically starts with fertility evaluations, including hormone testing and ultrasound scans. This is followed by around 10 to 12 days of hormonal injections that stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs instead of the single egg normally released during a menstrual cycle. Doctors monitor follicle growth closely through blood tests and ultrasounds throughout the process.
“When the eggs are ready, a trigger injection is given for final maturation, following which the eggs are retrieved under light sedation using an ultrasound-guided needle,” she explained. The mature eggs are then immediately frozen using vitrification technology and stored in specialised cryogenic tanks.
She described the procedure as minimally invasive, adding that most women can resume normal daily activities within one or two days, although mild bloating or temporary discomfort may occur.
Talking about costs, Dr Goel said that a single egg-freezing cycle in India may range between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh or more, depending on factors such as the clinic, medications used, city, and the number of cycles required. She added that additional expenses may include fertility tests, hormonal injections, storage charges, and future IVF procedures when the eggs are eventually used.
“Women with lower ovarian reserve or those freezing eggs at an older age may require multiple cycles, which can significantly increase the overall cost,” she said.
Dr Goel reiterated that while egg freezing offers reproductive flexibility, realistic counselling remains important.
Does egg freezing guarantee a future pregnancy?
According to Dr Amitha N, egg freezing is an important advancement in reproductive medicine, but “it should not be viewed as a guaranteed pathway to pregnancy.”
She explained that after eggs are frozen, they still need to survive the thawing process, get successfully fertilised, implant in the uterus, and develop into a healthy pregnancy - each stage carrying its own challenges. “Egg freezing preserves the possibility of pregnancy, not a promise of a future baby,” she said.
Dr Amitha noted that success rates depend heavily on the number and quality of eggs frozen. “In many cases, multiple eggs need to be frozen to improve the chances of achieving a successful pregnancy later in life,” she explained.
Why does age matter so much? Will the baby be healthy?
Dr Amitha emphasised that the age at which eggs are frozen plays a far more important role than the age at which they are eventually used. According to her, the late 20s to early 30s are generally considered the most favourable years for egg freezing because egg quality and ovarian reserve are at their peak during this period.
“Younger eggs are more likely to be chromosomally normal, which improves future pregnancy outcomes,” she said, adding that women who freeze their eggs before the age of 35 often have significantly better success rates compared to those who freeze later.
As women move into their late 30s and early 40s, the proportion of chromosomally healthy eggs declines rapidly, reducing overall success rates. However, Dr Amitha clarified that freezing eggs at a younger age can help preserve the chromosomal quality of those eggs even if pregnancy is attempted years later.
She further explained that current international research shows that babies born through frozen eggs do not appear to have higher risks of birth defects, developmental disorders, or chromosomal abnormalities compared to babies conceived naturally or through conventional IVF. “If eggs are frozen at a younger age, the chromosomal age of the egg remains preserved,” she said. She added that pre-implantation genetic testing may also be considered in certain cases.
Risks, side effects, and making an informed decision
Dr Amitha explained that egg freezing is generally considered a safe procedure, although temporary side effects and minor medical risks can occur during the ovarian stimulation process. Hormonal injections given over 10 to 12 days may lead to symptoms such as bloating, breast tenderness, headaches, mood changes, or bruising around the injection site.
“These symptoms are usually temporary and tend to resolve within one or two menstrual cycles,” she said.
She noted that one of the most important medical risks associated with the process is Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), a condition in which the ovaries respond excessively to fertility medications and become swollen or painful. However, serious cases are uncommon and can usually be prevented through careful monitoring using ultrasounds and blood tests.
Talking about the egg retrieval procedure, Dr Amitha said it is performed under light sedation and generally takes around 20 minutes. “Most women do not experience pain during the procedure itself, and recovery is usually quick,” she added.
Dr Amitha described egg freezing as an empowering option that can give women more reproductive flexibility while they pursue career, educational, or personal goals. However, she stressed the importance of realistic expectations and informed decision-making. “The best outcomes are often seen when women understand both the possibilities and limitations of the procedure,” she said. She advised women considering egg freezing to first consult a fertility specialist and undergo ovarian reserve assessment before making a decision.
