Nesting the Eggs on Another Day: Social Egg Freezing

Abstract

The object of this review article is to update on the freezing of oocytes for non-medical reasons. Following a review of increased success rate and safety, the cryopreservation of oocytes is no longer considered experimental. The trend of oocyte freezing is increasing amongst woman who wants to delay childbearing for personal, professional and financial reasons. Very few women return to retrieve their warmed frozen oocytes. The current evidence suggests that there is 70% chance of a live birth following cryopreservation of > 20 M II oocytes at < 38 years of age. However, a larger meta-analysis from different centres is needed to confirm the optimum age for oocyte cryopreservation, the optimum number of oocytes required for live birth, cost-effectiveness and how best to give accurate, unbiased updates to the prospective candidate wanting cryofreezing. In this paper, we have attempted to comprehensively review the literature published on the indications, success rates, factors affecting success rates, live birth rates, counselling, return rates and safety of social egg freezing.

Keywords: Oocyte cryopreservation; Planned fertility delay; Reproductive intention; Social egg freezing.