Egg freezing attracts many

Visakhapatnam: IVF centres in the city are now witnessing women approaching them to freeze their eggs in order to delay the baby making process in view of their career ambitions or when they are hitting mid-to-late 30s and avoid any infertility issues in future.  

The social stigma over egg donation has also subsided, according to city-based IVF centres.

“In the case of men, sperm development takes place in three months. But when women enter mid-to late 30s and 40s, the eggs disappear more quickly. Also, the eggs that remain might be less able to lead to a healthy pregnancy because of the normal age effects on egg quality. Biologically, it is easier to get pregnant before the age of 30. However, due to professional, social or health reasons, a woman might not be ready to get pregnant at that time and she might choose to defer having a child until the time is right for her. Understanding the normal age effect on future fertility, women seek out treatments to remove and freeze eggs to be saved for potential use in the future,” said London IVF, Vizag head Dr K. Chandra Reddy.

“However, freezing will not guarantee a baby in future all the times. Many studies showing successful pregnancies with frozen eggs have been reported of women freezing their eggs in their 20s or early 30s. Pregnancy rates will not be as high for women freezing eggs in their late 30s or early 40s. We are getting many queries,” Dr Reddy said.

Dr Tirumala of Srushti Fertility Centre said, “We have got four egg freezing cases this year. Though the numbers are few, the trend is picking up now in the city.”