Both embryo and egg freezing allow women to extend their fertility because the procedures preserve several embryos and eggs. For example, if you undergo the procedure at 28, you may use the resulting eggs or embryos a decade later without the conception complications a 38-year-old woman faces. In other words, although you’re 38, the eggs or embryos are from a 28-year-old. If you’ve decided to pursue the procedure but are unsure whether to freeze eggs or entire embryos, this guide will help you decide.

Egg Freezing

To freeze your eggs, you must take fertility drugs in the form of hormone injections for a week or two to facilitate their production. Then, you’ll have to undergo a minor, nonsurgical procedure during which your eggs are extracted. Each egg is then placed in liquid nitrogen, which halts the aging process until you’re ready to conceive.

Egg freezing is ideal for relatively young women who have yet to find their life partner because the process doesn’t require sperm— the eggs won’t be fertilized until they’re needed. Since each egg is delicate, they aren’t as reliable as frozen embryos once thawed.

Embryo Freezing

This fertility method is generally advisable over preserving only eggs. The procedure requires fertilization before freezing, so it can’t be done without sperm. As such, you must first know whom you intend to have children with, whether it’s your life partner or a sperm donor.

Embryos are sturdier than individual eggs, and they better withstand freezing and thawing. However, the discarding of unneeded embryos poses a moral dilemma for some couples. If you don’t need all of them, or you and your partner separate someday, what will you do with the unused embryos? If your faith or personal beliefs inhibit you from compromising them, create a plan to address this hiccup before proceeding. This will ensure you can move forward with a clear conscience.

If you want to determine your embryo or egg freezing eligibility, contact the team at IVF HAWAII in Honolulu. This state-of-the-art fertility clinic is proud to help its clients grow their families, and it has the highest IVF success rate in the state. To get more information about their services, visit their website or call (808) 538-6655.