Women Are Freezing Eggs Sooner: A Growing Trend

Katrina Matheson, 35, felt the need to take control of her future regarding motherhood.

A corporate professional from Orange, New South Wales, she moved back to Australia after spending time in Canada. She knew she wanted children eventually, but was still figuring out when she’d find the right partner.

And it seems many women are in the same boat.

New data shows that nearly 50 percent more women are choosing to freeze their eggs between 2023 and 2025, according to Adora Fertility.

Interestingly, the average age for egg freezing has dropped from 37 to 35, indicating that women are taking action earlier in life.

For Katrina, several reasons influenced her decision. “I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to be a mother, but I haven’t yet met the right partner to start a family with,” she shared.

“We also know that fertility declines in our late 30s, and we didn’t want to leave something this important completely to chance,” she added.

Compounding her decision was the loss of her right ovary to a tumor at age 25, which highlighted to her that fertility isn’t assured.

“After losing my ovary in my 20s, I felt it was a proactive way to protect my future at a much more affordable price than potentially much higher costs down the road,” she explained.

“Freezing my eggs gave me more options and took the pressure off my body clock. Most importantly, it gave me peace of mind and made me feel empowered.”

Why More Women Are Freezing Their Eggs

Dr. Charley Zheng, a fertility expert at Adora Fertility, notes that various factors are driving this increase, including a greater awareness of age-related fertility declines and more referrals from general practitioners.

“Over the past two years, we have seen a 48% increase in women coming to freeze their eggs,” Dr. Zheng shared.

She believes that increased knowledge about female fertility and the relationship between age and egg freezing success rates is making a difference.

Dr. Zheng highlights that age plays a significant role in a woman’s chances of getting pregnant.

“Women are born with all the eggs they will ever have, but over time, the quality and quantity decrease,” she explained.

To illustrate, a 32-year-old who has frozen five eggs has about a 55 percent chance of giving birth, while a 38-year-old faces only about a 26 percent chance.

According to Dr. Zheng, the best age to consider egg freezing is between 30 and 35.

The egg freezing procedure typically takes two to three weeks and involves hormonal stimulation followed by egg retrieval under sedation, which wasn’t easy for Katrina.

“The daily injections, hormonal fluctuations, and side effects were not simple. The last few days leading up to the trigger injection and egg retrieval were probably the hardest for me both physically and mentally,” she recounted.

The cost for a typical cycle ranges from $4,000 to $10,000, and many women may require multiple cycles to get enough eggs, plus ongoing storage fees of about $600 annually.

While selective freezing isn’t covered by Medicare, women dealing with conditions like endometriosis may qualify for subsidized treatments, as Dr. Zheng notes that such conditions can affect fertility.

Not Just a “Safety Blanket”

Despite the rising trend in egg freezing, experts caution that it’s not without its limitations.

For instance, the infertility tests sometimes create misconceptions. Many women turn to anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) tests to gauge their fertility, but research indicates that while AMH shows egg quantity, it doesn’t measure a woman’s ability to conceive naturally or the quality of her eggs, which is crucial for pregnancy success.

According to findings from the University of Sydney, AMH should not be the sole predictor of fertility, especially for women without existing reproductive issues.

Experts caution that even two women with identical AMH levels can experience very different pregnancy outcomes due to age and egg quality.

Plus, even after eggs are frozen, the journey doesn’t end there. Once thawed, eggs must survive the thawing process, be fertilized, develop as embryos, and successfully implant.

Research from Melbourne IVF indicates that while modern freezing techniques can keep viability rates above 90 percent, not every frozen egg becomes an embryo, and not all embryos lead to pregnancy.

“It’s essential for women to know that freezing eggs isn’t suitable for everyone and doesn’t guarantee a baby,” says Dr. Chung.

Success rates are influenced by factors like age, health, and the number of eggs collected.

After thawing, eggs generally have a fertilization rate around 65 to 70 percent.

Fertility specialists emphasize that it’s best for women to understand their ovarian reserve and consider multiple cycles to achieve an optimal number of eggs.

Medical Miracles Are Possible

One woman from Sydney saw freezing her eggs at age 40 as her last opportunity. With low AMH levels, Emily* had only two eggs retrieved and was told she would likely need more than 20 to “definitely” conceive.

Just before her IVF treatment halted, she decided to attempt conception.

“The specialist gave us one try and said there was less than a 5 percent chance of having a baby,” she shared.

“We couriered two frozen eggs to Adora and took out three more,” she continued.

“Out of the five eggs, only one became a viable embryo.”

Despite the challenges, she did manage to get pregnant and had a baby at age 45.

“Freezing my eggs was the best decision I ever made,” she reflected. “I feel very fortunate for our little boy.”

She advised being realistic. Egg freezing doesn’t assure a child, but sometimes you might need only one good egg.

Overall, Emily found the process to be “very positive.”

“My doctor has always been forthright about my age, and I’m incredibly grateful he allowed me to proceed with the surgery despite the low chances of success.”

Her experience encapsulates both the optimism and uncertainty that surround egg freezing.

Age-related risks in pregnancy persist, and subsequent IVF treatments can be demanding emotionally, physically, and financially.

Moreover, data shows only a small percentage of women who freeze their eggs actually go on to use them; some conceive naturally or simply revise their family plans.

Experts contend that egg freezing isn’t a universal safety net, urging women to fully understand their options, ask the right questions, and seek tailored advice.

*Emily’s name has been changed for privacy reasons.