Why Aren't We Talking About Infertility?

By Dr. Karenne Fru, MD PhD | Founder and Medical Director, Muna Fertility

“First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in a baby carriage!” Those may be the well-worn lyrics we were raised listening to, but the reality is more like “First comes student loans, then comes work, then comes marriage (maybe) and babies? (Put a pin in that!)” Yeah, the reality makes for less catchy lyrics. The truth is, there are an ever increasing pile of reasons why one might defer starting a family. This would be fine if the main cell type responsible for early embryo development could be produced on demand. Since they cannot, the next best thing to do is to freeze them so that they retain the properties of a younger egg at an older age! Allow me to explain.

What is an egg?
An egg or an oocyte, the female gamete that combines with the male gamete to make an embryo. Some embryos survive multiple rounds of cell division and implant in a woman’s uterus. Some pregnancies survive long enough to give us lovely babies!

So how important is an egg?
If you look at the size difference between male and female gametes in any species, the egg is much bigger. The reason is because it is responsible for sustaining early development when creating an embryo. So as the egg goes, so does the embryo!

Why does this matter?
Egg quality goes down with age. That is because ovaries establish all their eggs while a person is in the uterus and growing themselves. That number of eggs decreases even by birth. Then it is exposed to every event that a person has lived through: pollution, smoke exposure, excess weight, chronic medical conditions, etc. The end result is that the older the egg, the less efficient it is in making healthy embryos. The total number of available eggs also goes down over time. More importantly, this system is designed with an auto shut-off function. Yes, I’m talking about menopause. The reproductive lifespan is finite, starting with puberty and ending with menopause.

So how do I go about freezing my eggs?
The first step is deciding if you would like to preserve reproductive function for yourself well into your late forties. If the answer is yes, then you need to speak to a reproductive endocrinologist (like me). The conversation will center around the fact that the frozen eggs are intended for back up purposes only. The real test of the eggs is how well they convert from eggs to embryos. Freezing eggs does not guarantee a pregnancy later BUT it preserves and extends the window of opportunity to try for one. You probably would not like having that decision made for you by age alone or by the treatment of a condition like cancer.

Will it hurt?
The short answer is no.

Does the process take a long time?
Nope. 10-14 days for most young women less than 38 years old, with typical test results

How expensive is it?
It depends on your insurance carrier and what they cover. It is always less than the cost of an IVF cycle. Ask your clinic for help with this.

How long will my frozen eggs last?
Vitrified eggs can remain in that state indefinitely.

Can I ask more questions, please?
Of course! I’m happy to answer any questions you have about egg freezing or your reproductive plans. Find a reproductive endocrinologist (like me!). We are here to help.

At Muna Fertility we are having such conversations daily with women who wish to take control of their reproductive lives both now and in the future. You can set up a time to chat about this and other options at Munafertility.com or learn more about reproduction @munafertility on IG.