When looking at infertility treatments for the future, freezing eggs or embryos allows you to conceive at a later date with in vitro fertilization. Though similar in use and process, understanding the differences between these options will help you decide which is best for you. 

Freezing Eggs

In this process, unfertilized eggs are harvested from your body and flash-frozen to be used later, when they’ll be thawed, fertilized with sperm in a sterile medical environment, then implanted into your uterus through in vitro fertilization. Of the available modern infertility treatments, this one is ideal for women who want to preserve their ability to have children, especially those at risk of developing fertility issues because of age, illness, or chemotherapy. It’s also a good choice for women whose partners are infertile or who don’t have partners—healthy eggs can be fertilized with donor sperm when you’re ready for children.

You will need to take fertility medications beforehand to ensure quality eggs. Keep in mind there are minor risks associated with collecting eggs, including adverse reactions to the fertility drugs and risk of infection and perforation during harvesting.

Freezing Embryos

Freezing fertilized embryos is similar to freezing eggs, only it requires sperm. It provides a back-up plan for a couple to have their own child if one partner is at risk of becoming infertile or passing away. If you’re currently undergoing infertility treatments, embryos can be frozen for use if the first treatment is unsuccessful or if you decide to have another child, saving you money by not requiring another harvest.

Freezing embryos requires healthy sperm from either your partner or a donor as well as your eggs. Each egg is injected with a single sperm to fertilize it, then it’s either flash-frozen or frozen gradually, depending on the process of your infertility clinic. When you’re ready, it will be thawed and implanted in your uterus. The risks for embryo freezing are the same as eggs. Frozen embryos now offer a comparable success rate to non-frozen embryo infertility treatments.

As the first clinic to implement an IVF program in Hawaii, the Pacific In Vitro Fertilization Institute in Honolulu has provided effective infertility treatments to local families since 1985. Their services include egg freezing, donor sperm fertilization, embryo freezing, and pre-implantation genetic screening and testing. Learn more about their fertility preservation options online, and call (808) 946-2226 to make an appointment.