HOW IT WORKS

How the egg freezing process works and how OVA can help you take control of your future fertility.

EGG VITRIFICATION

Egg vitrification is the process of cryopreserving your eggs to stop the biological clock so they can be used in the future.

Cryopreservation

Egg freezing has been around for years, but an advancement in technology called “egg vitrification” has dramatically improved success rates.

The development of this flash-freezing technique has revolutionized the world of fertility. With its ultra-rapid freezing process and use of cryoprotectants, egg vitrification prohibits the formation of damaging ice crystals, thus sealing the egg in a glass-like protection.

It’s important to know that an IVF center may be able to freeze embryos well, but freezing eggs is a much more complex and delicate procedure. OVA is lab-powered with decades of cryopreservation experience. Our embryologists are leading the charge in continuing to advance vitrification technology.

an IVF center may be able to freeze embryos well, but freezing eggs is a much more complex and delicate procedure.

THE EGG FREEZING PROCESS

To prepare for egg freezing, you’ll undergo the same first phase of hormone injections as in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients. Following retrieval though, your eggs are frozen until you’re ready to use them.

Pre-screening/Prep phase

Testing completed prior to treatment to assess your fertility health. Birth control pills may be used to help time your cycle.

Ovarian Stimulation
10-14 DAYS

Daily hormone injections and monitoring appointments to evaluate your response to medications and check hormone levels.

Egg retrieval

Once follicles reach desired size, you are prepared for egg retrieval; a short outpatient procedure which is done under mild anesthesia.

Egg freezing

After your egg retrieval, OVA embryologists isolate the mature eggs and nurture them through the process of vitrification.

AGE AND YOUR EGGS

THE AGE OF YOUR EGGS IS THE MOST CRITICAL FACTOR IN FERTILITY,
NOT YOUR BIOLOGICAL AGE.

WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE WOMEN OF EVERY AGE TO BEGIN WITH AN OVAVIEW TEST. WE’LL DETERMINE THE BEST, MOST PERSONALIZED COURSE OF ACTION FOR YOU MOVING FORWARD.

AGE AND YOUR EGGS

OVARIAN RESERVE

Each woman is born with a finite and unique number of eggs, ready to mature and be released over her lifetime. This egg supply is referred to as your “ovarian reserve.”

NUMBER OF EGGS

On average, we are born with 1-2 million eggs, and by age 30, that number can drop by at least 90 percent. By the time women reach the age of 40, they can have ten times fewer eggs stored in their ovaries than when they were 25 years old. No two women are alike; you may have more or less eggs than another woman of the same age.

EGG QUALITY: CHANCE OF PREGNANCY

It’s not just about the quantity of eggs, it’s also about quality. Egg quality rapidly declines after the age of 35, leading to an increased risk of fertility and chromosomal issues. This is especially important to consider when it comes to future fertility planning even after the birth of your first baby.