Even if you’re currently single or simply focused on other aspects of your life like your career, you might be concerned about future family planning. Because fertility decreases with age, women opt to freeze eggs while they are younger. Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) is a relatively new procedure which allows patients to store eggs for later use.

Fertility preservation is mostly considered by women who are:

• Delaying motherhood
• Undergoing cancer treatments
• At risk for premature ovarian insufficiency
• Morally and/or religiously opposed to freezing embryos

How Does Age Affect a Woman’s Fertility?

A woman’s most fertile years are in her 20s. Fertility gradually diminishes throughout her 30s. A healthy woman in her 30s has only a 20% chance of getting pregnant each month. By age 40, this number decreases to about 5%.

Additionally, egg quality decreases with age. An older woman's eggs are more likely to have either too many or too few chromosomes instead of the normal 23. That’s why pregnancies at an older age are at higher risk for genetic abnormalities.

How Can Oocyte Cryopresservation Help?

If you aren't ready to have a child now but want to store your eggs for future use, oocyte cryopreservation may be for you. With this process, your healthy eggs are harvested and "frozen." Once the eggs are preserved, you can access them later when you are ready to start your family. 

Whether you’re currently struggling with infertility or want to preserve eggs now to plan for a baby later, Pacific In Vitro Fertilization Institute of Honolulu, HI, provides the cutting-edge reproductive technologies you need. When they opened in 1985, they were the state’s first IVF clinic. They serve single men and women as well as LGBT couples and cancer patients. Review their full range of services on their website. To schedule a consultation with a fertility doctor, call (808) 946-2226.