Egg Freezing vs. Embryo Freezing: Success Rates and What You Should Know

Dr. Richika Sahay | 04 Oct 2024 | 27766 Views |

Introduction

Are you curious about fertility preservation? You’ve probably heard about both egg freezing and embryo freezing but wondered which one has a better success rate.  If you’re considering preserving your fertility, it’s crucial to understand the difference between these two options and how their success rates compare.

At India IVF Fertility clinics in Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Srinagar, we’re all about making complex fertility concepts easy to understand. So, let’s dive in!

What’s the Difference Between Egg Freezing and Embryo Freezing?

First off, before comparing success rates, it’s important to get a clear idea of what egg freezing and embryo freezing actually involve.

Egg Freezing

Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, involves harvesting a woman’s eggs and freezing them unfertilized. Later, when you’re ready to have children, these eggs can be thawed, fertilized with sperm, and transferred to your uterus as embryos.

Embryo Freezing

Embryo freezing is a bit different. In this process, the eggs are harvested and fertilized with sperm right away to create embryos. The resulting embryos are then frozen for future use. When you’re ready to get pregnant, these embryos are thawed and transferred to your uterus.

Key Points to Remember:

• Egg Freezing preserves unfertilized eggs.
• Embryo Freezing stores fertilized embryos.

Egg Freezing vs. Embryo Freezing Success Rate

Now, let’s get into the juicy part: success rates. After all, if you’re thinking about fertility preservation, knowing your chances of success is probably top of mind.

Egg Freezing Success Rate

• Success rates of egg freezing depend heavily on the woman’s age.
• For women under 35, the success rate of achieving a live birth is around 70-80% with frozen eggs.
• For women aged 35-40, that rate drops to 50-70%.
• After age 40, the success rate of a live birth from frozen eggs can dip below 50%.

It’s important to note that egg freezing is still a relatively newer technology compared to embryo freezing, so long-term success rates may evolve over time.

Embryo Freezing Success Rate

• Embryo freezing generally has a higher success rate than egg freezing.
• For women under 35, the live birth success rate from frozen embryos is around 75-95%.
• For women aged 35-40, the success rate hovers between 60-75%.
• Even women over 40 have a higher chance of success with embryos, with a 50-60% success rate.

The primary reason for these higher success rates is that embryos, once formed, are more likely to survive the freezing and thawing process compared to unfertilized eggs.

Pros and Cons of Egg Freezing vs. Embryo Freezing

Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of each method to help you weigh your options.

Egg Freezing

Pros:

• Offers flexibility: You don’t need a sperm donor or partner at the time of freezing.
• You can choose to fertilize your eggs later, whenever you’re ready.

Cons:

• Lower success rates compared to embryos.
• The quality of eggs can degrade over time, particularly after age 35.

Embryo Freezing

Pros:

• Higher success rates than egg freezing.
• Embryos can survive the freezing and thawing process better than eggs.

Cons:

• Requires a sperm donor or partner at the time of freezing.
• Ethical and emotional concerns: What happens to unused embryos?

Why Age Matters

Age is a significant factor that impacts both egg and embryo freezing success rates. The younger you are when you freeze your eggs or embryos, the better your chances of having a successful pregnancy later.

Women under 35 have the highest success rates for both egg and embryo freezing. This is because the quality and quantity of a woman’s eggs decline with age, reducing the chances of fertilization and a healthy pregnancy.

Key takeaway: If you’re considering either option, the sooner, the better!

Choosing Between Egg Freezing and Embryo Freezing

It all comes down to your personal situation. If you’re not ready to commit to fertilizing your eggs just yet, egg freezing gives you the option to decide later. On the other hand, if you’re confident about using a sperm donor or partner’s sperm, embryo freezing offers a higher success rate.

At India IVF Fertility, we help women every day make informed decisions about fertility preservation. Whether you’re considering egg freezing or embryo freezing, our fertility specialists can guide you through the process and help you determine the best option based on your unique needs.

Conclusion

Both egg freezing and embryo freezing are valuable fertility preservation techniques, but they serve different purposes and have different success rates. Generally, embryo freezing offers higher success rates, but egg freezing provides more flexibility. Understanding the key differences between these methods can help you make an informed decision about your fertility journey.

At India IVF Fertility, with locations in Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Srinagar, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

FAQs

Which is better: egg freezing or embryo freezing?

The decision depends on your current situation. If you’re single and not ready to use sperm, egg freezing offers more flexibility. If you have a partner or donor and want higher success rates, embryo freezing might be a better option.

Does freezing eggs or embryos guarantee pregnancy?

No, while both methods improve your chances of having a baby in the future, neither can guarantee pregnancy. Success rates vary depending on age and other factors.

Can I switch from egg freezing to embryo freezing later?

Yes! If you've already frozen eggs, they can be thawed and fertilized later to create embryos when you're ready to conceive.

About The Author

Dr. Richika Sahay

MBBS (Gold Medalist), DNB (Obst & Gyne), MNAMS, MRCOG (London-UK), Fellow IVF, Fellow MAS, Infertility (IVF) Specialist & Gynae Laparoscopic surgeon,[Ex AIIMS & Sir Gangaram Hospital, New Delhi]. Read more about me