Fertility Preservation Program: Egg, Sperm & Embryo Freezing
Urgent oncofertility services, medical preservation, and elective freezing — all three paths covered
What Is Fertility Preservation?
Fertility preservation involves freezing eggs, sperm, or embryos while your fertility is at its peak, so they are available when you are ready. It offers valuable options for those delaying childbearing due to cancer treatment, career plans, or personal choice.
Egg Freezing
The most common method for women — mature eggs are retrieved and vitrified for future use
Sperm Freezing
The simplest method for men — semen is frozen and can be stored for decades
Embryo Freezing
For those with a partner — fertilized embryos are frozen, offering higher success rates than egg freezing alone
Who Should Consider Fertility Preservation?
Cancer Patients
Chemotherapy and radiation can damage fertility. Freezing eggs, sperm, or embryos before treatment is a critical step to protect future fertility.
Women Delaying Childbearing
If you plan to try conceiving after 35, egg freezing helps preserve your current egg quality and reduces the impact of age-related fertility decline.
Transgender Individuals
Preserving fertility before hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgery keeps the option of biological children open in the future.
Those Facing Ovarian Surgery
Endometriosis or ovarian cyst surgery may affect ovarian function. Freezing eggs beforehand provides a safety net.
Singles Not Yet Ready
If you do not have a partner yet but want children someday, egg freezing puts fertility on your timeline.
The Egg Freezing Process
Initial Assessment
Blood tests for ovarian reserve (AMH, FSH), ultrasound to assess follicle count, personalized medication plan
Ovarian Stimulation
~10-12 days of injectable hormones with regular ultrasound monitoring to track follicle growth
Egg Retrieval
~15-20 minutes under IV sedation; ultrasound-guided needle retrieves mature eggs
Vitrification
Retrieved eggs are immediately vitrified (flash-frozen); survival rates exceed 80-90%
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I use my frozen eggs? What are the success rates after thawing?
There is no set "expiry date" for frozen eggs — they can be safely stored for decades without significant quality loss (long-term data confirms at least 10+ years). Post-thaw success rates depend on your age at freezing and number of eggs stored: eggs frozen before age 30 have a fertilization rate of ~70-80% after thawing, with roughly 5-7% cumulative live birth rate per egg. Freezing 15 or more eggs significantly improves your future chances. Your physician will provide a personalized estimate based on your ovarian reserve at your first consultation.
Cancer patients: is there enough time to freeze eggs before chemotherapy?
Yes. Modern emergency/oncofertility protocols can complete an egg freezing cycle in as little as 7-14 days — much faster than the traditional 2-3 week process. "Random start" stimulation techniques allow treatment to begin at any point in the menstrual cycle without waiting for a period. HRC collaborates with oncologists to coordinate quickly after diagnosis, allowing patients to complete fertility preservation without delaying cancer treatment.
Which has the highest success rate — egg freezing, sperm freezing, or embryo freezing?
In terms of success rates: frozen embryos > frozen eggs > frozen sperm. Embryos are already fertilized and have higher survival rates; each chromosomally normal embryo transfer achieves a 40-60% live birth rate. Egg freezing offers greater personal flexibility (no partner or donor sperm needed upfront) and modern vitrification has largely closed the gap with fresh eggs. Sperm freezing is used primarily for male fertility preservation and does not directly determine pregnancy rates (sperm still needs to fertilize an egg).
Will egg retrieval affect my chances of natural conception later?
No. Egg retrieval does not reduce your egg reserve or impair future natural fertility. Each menstrual cycle, multiple follicles develop simultaneously, but normally only one matures and ovulates while the rest naturally die off. Egg retrieval, aided by stimulation medications, simply allows those "would-have-been-wasted" follicles to also mature and be collected — it does not draw from any additional reserve beyond what your body would have naturally used that cycle.
Related Topics
Consult About Fertility Preservation
Our international patient consultants are ready to provide personalized guidance across time zones