Egg freezing doesn’t guarantee pregnancy, say fertility specialists

Fertility specialists have outlined key considerations for women planning to freeze their eggs to increase the likelihood of a successful pregnancy when they wish to have children later.

They stressed that while egg freezing can expand reproductive options, it does not guarantee future pregnancy.

However, they noted that factors such as age, overall reproductive health, cost, and the chances of future success of the procedure must be carefully evaluated before making the decision.

They explained that egg freezing offers women an opportunity to preserve their fertility for future use, particularly for those who wish to delay childbearing due to career, education, medical, or personal reasons.

Egg freezing, known as oocyte cryopreservation, is one form of assisted reproductive technology, according to a medical website, Healthline.

It added that during the procedure, medications are used to stimulate eggs to grow.

“Those eggs are then harvested from the ovaries and frozen for storage. At a later date, the eggs can be thawed and combined with sperm to create an embryo. The embryo can then be implanted into the uterus during an embryo transfer cycle.

“Although this won’t guarantee a pregnancy, it can improve the chances of successfully conceiving later in life,” the website said.

In Nigeria, conversations around egg freezing have begun gaining traction among the younger generation on social media, with many considering the idea based on personal, economic, or relationship factors.

Aside from the above-listed factors, other women are also considering the option as a viable clinical technique to preserve their fertility, based on concerns around rising infertility among young couples.

The Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health says there are about 12 million infertile persons in Nigeria, which is almost 10 per cent of the total population.

Speaking exclusively to PUNCH Healthwise, the President of the Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health, Prof. Preye Fiebai, urged women to develop realistic expectations about egg freezing.

He explained that the procedure allows women to preserve higher-quality eggs at a younger age.

The fertility specialist said while it could be a lifestyle or elective choice for some women, it could be a medical necessity for others.

“It is medically necessary for patients facing fertility-threatening conditions such as cancer treatment like chemotherapy/radiation, certain autoimmune diseases, or genetic conditions that accelerate ovarian failure,” he said.

Fiebia, who is a professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Port Harcourt, also clarified that egg freezing does not guarantee future pregnancy.

“It improves the odds compared to using older eggs later, but it does not guarantee a pregnancy or live birth.

“Success depends on age at freezing, number and quality of eggs retrieved, thawing survival rates, fertilization success, embryo quality, and the recipient’s uterine health at the time of transfer. Many women who freeze eggs never use them,” he said.

On what every woman should know before deciding to freeze her eggs, he said:

“Best results are achieved in the late 20s to mid-30s; success drops after age 37–38. It is expensive and often requires multiple cycles.

“Also, there are no guarantees; it provides options, not certainty. And the individual involved will likely need IVF later to use the eggs.”

Fiebai added, “The procedure does not improve women’s natural fertility, prevent menopause, or harm their ability to conceive naturally in the future.”

He, however, urged women to get personalised testing and realistic success estimates from reproductive specialists.

Aside from personalised testing, he urged women to consider emotional readiness and total costs, which include egg retrieval, storage, and future IVF.

Also speaking, the Second Vice President of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, Prof Christopher Aimakhu, said advances in reproductive technology have made egg freezing an option for many women.

“Women may choose to freeze their eggs because they want to preserve their fertility and extend their reproductive window in response to social, professional, or medical circumstances.

“Socially, a woman may not be ready for marriage or may not have found a compatible partner. Professionally, she may wish to focus on her career or education before starting a family. Medically, women undergoing cancer treatment, those with endometriosis, or those facing other fertility-threatening conditions may opt for egg freezing to preserve their chances of having children in the future,” he said.

Corroborating Fiebai, Aimakhu noted that the procedures do not guarantee pregnancy in the future.

“No, egg freezing does not guarantee a future pregnancy. The success of a future pregnancy depends on several factors beyond simply freezing the eggs,” he said.

The fertility specialist listed factors influencing the success of future pregnancy after the procedure that women should know to include:

“The woman’s age at the time the eggs are frozen. Younger eggs generally have better quality and a higher chance of resulting in a successful pregnancy.

“The total number of eggs frozen. Not all eggs will survive thawing, so having more eggs stored can improve the chances of success.

“Also, the quality of the sperm used for fertilisation and the successful embryo development and implantation in the uterus,” he said.