Elective egg freezing: State of the ART

Women are having children later in life, and the risk and prevalence of involuntary childlessness is thus increasing. Oocyte storage is widely available and increasingly used for elective (non-medical) indications by women trying to safeguard future fertility. There is controversy, however, regarding who should consider oocyte freezing, at what age and how many oocytes should be frozen.

The aim of this article is to provide an update on the practical management of non-medical oocyte freezing, including patient counselling and selection.

The latest studies indicate that younger women are less likely to return to use their frozen oocytes, while a live birth is far less likely to result from oocytes frozen at an older age. While not guaranteeing a future pregnancy, oocyte cryopreservation is also associated with a substantial financial burden and uncommon but serious complications. Therefore, patient selection, appropriate counselling and maintenance of realistic expectations are crucial for this new technology to be used with the greatest positive impact.